Correlations Between Biochemical Profile and Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Cirrhosis of the Liver Without Previous Cardiovascular Abnormalities

Abstract

The role of cardiac imaging in the management of non-cardiovascular diseases has been continuously increased. Most studies suggest the utility of echocardiography examination in the evaluation of left ventricular function in cirrhotic patients, being well-known that cirrhosis of the liver is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities which include especially left ventricle diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. Cardiac dysfunction contributes to morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to emphasize the role of echocardiography in assessing left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in cirrhotic patients in order to establish a correlation between echocardiography parameters and biochemical variables in patients with end-stage cirrhosis. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis over a two-year period (2016-2018). 41 patients with cirrhotic liver from the departments of Gastroenterology and Cardiology from St Spiridon Emergency Hospital of Ia�i were included in the study, after a written informed consent was obtained. Patients with any previous cardiovascular (CV) abnormalities, other causes of pulmonary hypertension and endocrinopathies were excluded from the study. Using transthoracic echocardiography left ventricle dimensions and wall thickness (left ventricle posterior wall thickness + interventricular septum thickness) and also diastolic function (E wave, A wave, E/A ratio, deceleration time of E wave) and systolic function (ejection fraction) were determined along with biochemical variables. In conclusion, no significant association was obtained between echocardiographic changes and biochemical profile in patients with cirrhosis of liver.