Clinical Characteristics of Portal Hemodynamics in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis

Abstract

Background: Low incidence of reversal blood flow at the portal vein has been reported by measurement in larger and extrahepatic blood vessels but not in intrahepatic blood vessels in patients with liver cirrhosis. Moreover, there is little information regarding the incidence of reversal blood on the basis of the cause of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to measure the reversal blood flow in the portal vein including intrahepatic branches in patients with alcoholic and viral cirrhosis.Methods: The blood flow in the portal vein and existence of portosystemic shunt were studied in 52 and 27 patients with alcoholic and viral cirrhosis, respectively, by Doppler ultrasonography. The parameters of liver function test and the prevalence of ascites and esophageal varices were compared between patients with and without reversal blood flow.Results: Reversal blood flow at the portal vein was found only in patients with only alcoholic cirrhosis (17 of 52 patients) but not in any patients with viral cirrhosis (0 of 27 patients; p Ͻ 0.05). The incidence of portosystemic ascites and red color of esophageal varices was also higher in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis with reversal blood flow in the portal vein compared with patients without reversal blood flow (p Ͻ 0.05).Conclusions: Reversal blood flow in the portal vein is a characteristic feature of alcoholic cirrhosis. The presence of reversal blood flow indicates severe liver diseases, and this feature may have prognostic importance for patients with alcoholic cirrhosis.

Is Budd–Chiari Syndrome Associated to Alcoholic Related Liver Cirrhosis

“…As for vein, a prospective study showed that alcohol could increase blood pressure in the portal vein so as to inducing portal vein regurgitating and blood clots [24]. Portal venous reflux is a special feature of alcoholic cirrhosis and is rarely found in viral cirrhosis [25]. In addition, chronic alcohol ingestion activity NADPH oxidase activity to induce vascular wall damage, followed by penetration of liquid and macromolecules to trigger production of collagen, elastin, and basement membrane-like substances [26,27].…”