Arteriovenous Hemangiomas: A Manifestation of Chronic Liver Disease

Dermatologic abnormalities are common in patients with hepatic disorders, with the skin being one of the major target organs for extrahepatic manifestations. Common skin findings in liver disease include spider angiomas, palmar erythema, caput medusa, and nail changes. This report details a case of arteriovenous hemangiomas in a patient with alcohol-induced chronic liver disease. The patient received an orthotopic liver transplant, and follow-up 10 weeks later showed a marked reduction in the size of the arteriovenous hemangiomas as well as significant improvement of spider angiomas. Abnormal skin findings can be the first patient-reported symptoms or findings on exam. The marked reduction in this patient's arteriovenous hemangiomas after liver transplantation supports prior evidence that treating underlying liver disease leads to arteriovenous hemangioma regression. While most cutaneous conditions are asymptomatic, familiarity and prompt recognition of common and uncommon skin changes of liver dysfunction, including arteriovenous hemangiomas, are important for early diagnosis and treatment initiation.