Cerebrospinal fluid-, blood-, and ascitis-catecholamines in hepatic cirrhosis

The consideration of the extensive innervation of liver parenchyma, together with data relating to the degradation of catecholamines in the liver and the importance of hepatic vascular process in hepatic cirrhosis, prompted us to investigate the behaviour of catecholamines in this condition. The following parameters were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood and ascitis fluid: total catecholamines, adrenaline and noradrenaline. During hepatic cirrhosis, total catecholamines level in blood, as well as in CSF was reduced. This reduction could be attributed primarily to a decrease in noradrenaline. Since adrenaline remained almost normal, the fraction of adrenaline contributing to total catecholamines increased close to 50%, which is higher than normal. Changes parallel to those found in the blood could be observed also in the ascitis fluid.