Relationship between Peripheral Portal Blood Flow and Liver Function in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Pulsed Doppler Ultrasonographic Study

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Abstract
Nishihara K, Sakata K, Yagyu T, Nakashima K, Suzuki T. Relationship between peripheral portal blood flow and liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis. Pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic study. Scand J Gastroenterol 1994;29:859-864. Background: The relationship between portal hemodynamics and liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis remains unclear. Methods: Using pulsed Doppler ultrasonography, we investigated portal hemodynamics in the trunk and the intrahepatic peripheral vessels and its relation to liver function in cirrhotic patients. Results: The portal blood flow in the right anterior branch (RAB) in cirrhotic patients (n equals; 40) was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than that in normal subjects (n equals; 40). In the cirrhotic patients the portal blood flow in the RAB was significantly correlated with the values of serum albumin, total bilirubin, cholesterol, cholinesterase, prothrombin time, and ICG R-15, and that in group C (Child's grading) was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) compared with that in group A. No such difference was found in the main portal vein, the right posterior branch, or the umbilical portion of the left portal vein. Conclusions: The decrease in blood flow in the RAB is closely related to the impairment of liver function in cirrhotic patients.