J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  2001 Dec;20(4):273-277.

Hyperdynamic Circulatory Changes in Liver Cirrhosis: Comparative Evaluation by Doppler Ultrasonagraphy with Normal Subjects

• Im DW
• Baik SK
• Suh JI
• Kim JW
• Park YS
• Kim HS
• Lee DK
• Kwon SO

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cardiovascular and splanchnic hemodynamic changes in patients with liver cirrhosis and to compare with those of the normal controls using Doppler ultrasonography.
MATERIALS and METHODS
A total of 129 patients including 23 of Child-Pugh class A, 24 of class B, 30 of class C, and 52 of the control group were included. Cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and blood flow and pulsatility index (PI) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) were evaluated and compared among each groups.
RESULTS
CO and SMA blood flow in the cirrhotic group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the increase in CO and SMA blood flow showed a statistically significant correlation with the degree of liver dysfunction (p<0.01). SVRI and SMA PI reflecting vascular resistance in the cirrhoic group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and the decrease in SVRI and SMA PI also showed a statistically significant correlation with the degree of liver dysfunction (p<0.01). SMA blood flow showed a statistically significant inverse relationship with SMA PI (R2=0.230) .
CONCLUSION
Hyperdynamic circulatory changes such as increases in CO and splanchnic blood flow were present in patients with liver cirrhosis. These changes may contribute to the development and maintenance of the portal hypertension due to an increase in portal blood flow.an increase in portal blood flow.

MeSH Terms

Cardiac Output
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hypertension, Portal
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases
Liver*
Mesenteric Artery, Superior
Ultrasonography, Doppler
Vascular Resistance