Ratio of the blood flow in liver and splenic arteries in patients with various forms of portal hypertension

Abstract

Each type of portal hypertension has clinical and diagnostic peculiarities, which determines the choice of therapeutic approach and subsequently an outcome. Aim. In order to evaluate the arterial blood flow of the liver, which can be ambiguous in the syndrome of portal hypertension, in 85 patients with liver cirrhosis, pre-hepatic and post-hepatic forms of portal hypertension the ratio of arterial blood flow in the hepatic and splenic arteries was studied. Methods and results. To assess the hepatic arterial blood flow, we have introduced a new index – hepato-splenic arterial index, which is determined as the ratio of the flow rates in proper hepatic and splenic arteries. In cirrhosis of the liver, blood flow in the hepatic artery was increased in relation to spleen. With pre-hepatic and post-hepatic forms of portal hypertension which decrease and increase amount of arterial blood in total liver blood flow, respectively, the ratio of arterial blood flow in the hepatic and splenic arteries is unchanged. Conclusion. This suggests that the hepato-splenic arterial index can serve as a differential criterion for determination of causes of portal hypertension syndrome. Portal Hypertension, Doppler Ultrasonography, Liver Cirrhosis

Keywords

• Portal Hypertension
• Doppler Ultrasonography
• Liver Cirrhosis