A Rare Case of Hepatic Artery Vasospasm in a Native Liver

Hepatic artery vasospasm (HAV) is a relatively uncommon vascular phenomenon that can arise after liver transplants. Its occurrence in a native liver presents an atypical clinical picture. There is a lack of sufficient data on its etiology, incidence, diagnostics and management leaving room for further investigation. This report presents a rare case of HAV in a 40-year-old woman with a native liver. A recent hip fall led to her admission, followed by markedly elevated liver enzymes one week later. Doppler ultrasound (US) revealed patent hepatic vasculature with an elevated resistivity index, which supported our presumed diagnosis. Because of limited data on preventative management for this diagnosis, we used the management of vasospastic angina to start a treatment course, which included a calcium channel blocker and a Statin. Her liver enzymes began to normalize, indicating a favorable response to treatment, ultimately leading to discharge.