Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 88, Issue 2, February 1985, Pages 430-435
Gastroenterology

Effects of prostaglandin inhibition on systemic and hepatic hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(85)90503-7Get rights and content

Abstract

The role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of the circulatory abnormalities of cirrhosis was investigated by studying the effects of prostaglandin inhibition with indomethacin (50 mg/8 h for 24 h) on the systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics in 13 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. Indomethacin administration significantly reduced cardiac output (from 7.44 ± 0.7 to 6.78 ± 0.7 L/min, p < 0.05) and increased peripheral vascular resistance (from 990 ± 104 to 1155 ± 140 dyn · s · cm−5, p < 0.05). Arterial pressure was not modified. These changes in systemic hemodynamics were associated with a significant reduction in hepatic blood flow (from 1.88 ± 0.43 to 1.48 ± 0.3 L/min, p < 0.05) and with a slight decrease of portal pressure (from 18.8 ± 1.3 to 17.5 ±1.4 mmHg, p < 0.05). These results suggest that endogenous prostaglandins contribute to the increased cardiac output and diminished vascular resistance observed in cirrhosis of the liver. In addition, by promoting splanchnic vasodilation, prostaglandins may contribute to increased portal pressure in these patients.

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    This work was supported by grants from the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social (82/412, 82/264) and from the Comisión Asesora de Investigación Científica y Técnica, Ministerio de Educatión y Ciencia.

    This work was presented at the 18th Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver, Southampton (U.K.), September 1–3, 1983.

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