Venous Occlusive Disease or Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome is a liver disease occurring from complications after transplant procedures such as stem cell and bone marrow transplant. It is recorded that 5 percent to 60 percent of children to adults who undergone transplant procedure had encountered the VOD.
Causes of VOD
The disease may have been encountered after stem cell and bone marrow transplant procedures, the cause are still not clear. It is believed that the risks before the transplant and other related conditions may have contributed to the disease. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy before transplant procedures may also contribute to the Venous Occlusive Disease.
Symptoms
A person with veno-occlusive disease may experience jaundice or yellowing of the skin and eyes; tenderness and enlargement of liver felt under the right ribs; edema or swelling of legs; abdomen fluid build-up; psychological effects may also be experienced such as sleepiness and confusion.
Treatment and Medication of Venous Occlusive Disease
It is still not certain what can really cure the Venous Occlusive Disease but medications and management of the VOD are available. Drugs and other technology can be used to manage the disease, as well as lifestyle.
Treating the disease is aimed to normalize the flow of deposits within the vessels, which include plasminogen activator or t-PA, antithrombin III (ATIII) replacement and administration, anticoagulant procedures, and drugs such as Defibrotide which has anti-ischemic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic and thrombolytic properties. Although Defibrotide has been used in treating Venous or Veno-occlusive disease, the use of the drug is only limited to clinical studies since the drug is not licensed by United States Food and Drug Administration.
Other supportive care is advised to be used by patients who have the disease such as managing salt intake and fluid; avoid using low-dose dopamine; observed diuretic medication and always visit your medical practitioner for more details on other supportive practices when other problems arise.