Hypergalactosaemia and portosystemic encephalopathy due to persistence of ductus venosus Arantii

Hypergalactosaemia was discovered in a newborn girl during routine metabolic screening. Hereditary enzyme deficiency was ruled out. Because hypergalactosaemia persisted, an open ductus venosus Arantii was suspected but remained undetected by conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography. It was demonstrated by combined colour and pulsed wave Doppler sonography. At age 3 years 6 months, the girl developed initial symptoms of portosystemic encephalopathy which progressed and was treated by protein restriction, oral lactulose and flumazenil, with some success. In the absence of enzyme deficiency, hypergalactosaemia in the newborn is an early sign of duct persistence. For the unambiguous diagnosis of an open duct, colour Doppler sonography is the method of choice. Pulsed wave Doppler sonography is recommended for pathophysiological characterisation of the splanchnic venous return.