Hepatic infarction and nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver with associated anticardiolipin antibodies in a young woman.

An 18-year-old woman developed acute congestive hepatic infarction in the presence of a circulating anticardiolipin antibody. She subsequently developed nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver (NRHL) with associated portal hypertension. Unlike previously reported cases of NRHL, this case offers a prospective follow-up of the development of NRHL. Its occurrence following an episode of hepatic venous impairment in an otherwise normal liver supports the hypothesis that NRHL may develop as a consequence of diminished hepatic venous drainage.