Hepatic microvascular dysplasia

Hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD or MVD) or portal atresia is a disorder where mixing of venous blood and arterial blood in the liver occurs at the microscopic level.

[citation needed] HMD is sometimes misdiagnosed as Portosystemic vascular anomaly (PSVA) or a "Liver Shunt" (portosystemic shunt).

HMD can be diagnosed with an MRI, using a tracing dye in the subject's blood, and observing the flow of blood through the subject's liver and surrounding areas (stomach, intestine) for anomalies.

Symptoms include stunted growth in the first 6–9 months, vomiting, seizures, and hydro-encephalitic episodes (from ammonia concentrating in the blood).

[citation needed] HMD is usually treated non-surgically with antibiotics (metronidazole) and stool-softeners (lactulose).