Abstract:
Purpose. The purpose of our study was to
evaluate the relationship between the splenoportal
hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis and the
stage of the disease.
Methods. Patients with cirrhosis were grouped according
to modified Child-Pugh scoring into stages A,
B, and C of cirrhosis. A control group of healthy volunteers
was included. After gastroenterologic clinical
and laboratory examinations, all participants underwent
a splenoportal Doppler sonographic evaluation
in which the vessels’ diameter, area, and blood flow
velocity were measured and blood flow rate and the
congestion index in the splenoportal venous system
were calculated.
Results. Seventy-five patients with cirrhosis (25
women and 50 men) were enrolled; the control group
consisted of 30 healthy volunteers (15 women and
15 men) with no liver disease. The mean age (± standard
deviation) of the patients was 54.4 ± 14.8 years
(range, 13–80 years) and of the control subjects was
47.3 ± 14.5 years (range, 18–72 years). No significant
differences in vessel diameter, blood flow velocity,
and blood flow rate were found in the main and left
portal veins between the study group and the control
group. In the right portal vein, we found decreases in
the vessel diameter, blood flow velocity, and blood
flow rate, and in the splenic vein, we found increases
in vessel diameter and blood flow rate. The congestion
index was increased in the main portal and
splenic veins but was unchanged in the left portal
vein.
Conclusions. Although our data indicate that there
is no difference in Doppler sonographic parameters of
the main portal vein according to Child-Pugh scores,
the hemodynamic differences between the left and
right branches of the portal vein may be clinically useful
in patients with cirrhosis.
