HYPERKINETIC SYNDROME IN PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS - CORRELATION WITH LIVER-FAILURE AND PORTAL-HYPERTENSION

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (4) , 321-324
Abstract
Hyperkinetic circulatory state is common in patients with cirrhosis, but the cause of this syndrome has not been clearly elucidated. Systemic hemodynamic changes and their relationship to liver failure and splanchnic hemodynamics were studied in 100 patients with cirrhosis and were compared to a group of 15 patients without portal hypertension. Cardiac output [CO] was significantly higher and systemic vascular resistance [SVR] was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in control patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that among different clinical, biochemical and splanchnic hemodynamic data, serum albumin, serum bilirubin, plasma prothrombin and gastrointestinal bleeding significantly and independently explained the variation of CO and SVR. No relationship was found between hepatic venous pressures or the presence of ascites and the hyperkinetic syndrome. In patients with cirrhosis, liver failure is partly responsible for the hyperkinetic state.