• Disease Overview
  • Synonyms
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Affected Populations
  • Disorders with Similar Symptoms
  • Diagnosis
  • Standard Therapies
  • Clinical Trials and Studies
  • References
  • Programs & Resources
  • Complete Report

Banti’s Syndrome

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Last updated: August 17, 2007
Years published: 1989, 1997, 2004, 2007


Disease Overview

Banti syndrome is a disorder of the spleen, the large, gland-like organ in the upper left side of the abdomen that produces red blood cells before birth and, in newborns, removes and destroys aged red blood cells, and plays a role in fighting infection. In the case of Banti syndrome, the spleen rapidly but prematurely destroys blood cells.

This syndrome is characterized by abnormal enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly) due to obstruction of blood flow in some veins and abnormally increased blood pressure (hypertension) within the veins of the liver (e.g., hepatic or portal veins), or the spleen (splenic veins). The disorder may be due to any number of different factors causing obstruction of portal, hepatic, or splenic veins including abnormalities present at birth (congenital) of such veins, blood clots, or various underlying disorders causing inflammation and obstruction of veins (vascular obstruction) of the liver.

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Synonyms

  • Banti's Disease
  • Hypersplenism
  • Idiopathic congestive splenomegaly
  • Idiopathic portal hypertension
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Signs & Symptoms

In early stages, symptoms of Banti syndrome include weakness, fatigue, anemia , and abnormal enlargement of the spleen. As the disorder progresses, the anemia becomes more severe. The anemia may be aggravated by a bleeding esophagus that may cause vomiting of blood and the passage of dark stools composed of decomposing blood. Ultimately, in some cases, the liver itself becomes enlarged and subdivided by fibrous tissue (cirrhosis). However, the spleen enlargement in Banti syndrome is the primary symptom.

Patients with Banti syndrome bruise easily, are more likely to contract bacterial infections and carry a fever for longer periods of time.

Symptoms may also include abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites), weakness, fatigue; abnormally low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells (leukopenia), and/or platelets (thrombocytopenia), and/or episodes of bleeding (hemorrhage) from the gastrointestinal tract.

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Causes

Banti syndrome may occur due to a number of different factors causing obstruction of, and abnormally increased blood pressure (hypertension) within, certain veins of the spleen (splenic veins) or the liver (e.g., hepatic or portal veins). These may include abnormalities present at birth (congenital) of such veins, blood clots, or various underlying disorders causing inflammation and obstruction of veins (vascular obstruction) of the liver, such as cirrhosis. Increased arsenic intake has also been implicated in some cases. Also, cases have occurred in patients taking long-term azathioprine, particularly after kidney transplantation.

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Affected populations

Banti syndrome affects males and females equally. It is relatively common in parts of India and Japan, but rare in Western countries. Increased arsenic levels are present in drinking water in some countries and may contribute to regional differences in incidence.

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Diagnosis

The diagnosis of Banti syndrome my be confirmed by a thorough clinical evaluation and a variety of specialized tests, particularly advanced imaging techniques such as a splenic venography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During MRI, a magnetic field and radio waves are used to create cross-sectional images of targeted parts of the body.

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Standard Therapies

Treatment

Treatment of Banti syndrome is dependent upon the cause. If a contributing factor such as arsenic or azathioprine is identified, the exposure should be stopped.

The main clinical problem is bleeding from esophageal or gastric swollen blood vessels (varices). Active bleeding may be treated with vasoconstrictor drugs or other methods used to treat portal hypertension. Recurrent bleeding may require that blood flow be rerouted by a surgical shunt. An orphan drug for bleeding esophageal varices, Ethamolin, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1988.

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Clinical Trials and Studies

Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.

For information about clinical trials being conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:

Tollfree: (800) 411-1222

TTY: (866) 411-1010

Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov

For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:

www.centerwatch.com

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References

TEXTBOOKS

McCormick PA. Banti syndrome. In: NORD Guide to Rare Disorders. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Philadelphia, PA. 2003:377-78.

Beers MH, Berkow R., eds. The Merck Manual, 17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories; 1999:973.

Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Arvin AM. Eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 15th ed. W.B. Saunder Company. Philadelphia, PA; 1996:1439.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Waqar SN, Jindani S, Baig NS, et al. Banti’s syndrome: case report and review of the literature. J Pak Med Assoc. 2004;54:99-101.

Pickhardt PJ, Balfe DM. Portal vein calcification and associated biliary stricture in idiopathic portal hypertension (Banti’s syndrome). Abdom Imaging. 1998;23:180-82.

FROM THE INTERNET

Banti’s disease. Who Named It? nd. 2pp.

www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/475.html

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Programs & Resources

RareCare® Assistance Programs

NORD strives to open new assistance programs as funding allows. If we don’t have a program for you now, please continue to check back with us.

Additional Assistance Programs

MedicAlert Assistance Program

NORD and MedicAlert Foundation have teamed up on a new program to provide protection to rare disease patients in emergency situations.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/medicalert-assistance-program/

Rare Disease Educational Support Program

Ensuring that patients and caregivers are armed with the tools they need to live their best lives while managing their rare condition is a vital part of NORD’s mission.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/rare-disease-educational-support/

Rare Caregiver Respite Program

This first-of-its-kind assistance program is designed for caregivers of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.

Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/caregiver-respite/

Patient Organizations


National Organization for Rare Disorders