American journal of clinical pathology
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Presented herein is a case report of a 20-year-old woman with a past history of oral contraceptive use who developed Budd-Chiari syndrome. Onset of her illness was abrupt and stormy, simulating fulminant viral hepatitis or toxic hepatic injury. ⋯ Of interest was the finding of persistently depressed antithrombin III levels. While a relationship between oral contraceptive usage, antithrombin III deficiency and the Budd-Chiari syndrome is strongly suggested in this case, prospective studies are needed to substantiate this view.