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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
Portalsystemic hemodynamic changes in chronic severe hepatitis B: An ultrasonographic study
Zhong-Zhen Su1, Hong Shan, Wei-Min Ke
1Department of Infectious Diseases, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China. sp9313@126.com
Chronic severe hepatitis B patients show signs of acute portal hypertension with reduced portal vein blood flow. Monitoring these hemodynamic changes can help understand chronic liver disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Vascular Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Chronic severe hepatitis B can lead to significant liver damage and complications.
- Understanding portalsystemic hemodynamic changes is crucial for assessing disease severity and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate portalsystemic hemodynamic changes in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B.
- To compare these changes with normal controls and patients at different stages of hepatitis B and cirrhosis.
Main Methods:
- Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure hemodynamic parameters including portal vein diameter, velocity, and volume, as well as spleen dimensions and umbilical vein recanalization.
- Measurements were taken in 36 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and compared against 51 normal controls, 61 with chronic hepatitis B, 46 with compensable cirrhosis, and 36 with decompensable cirrhosis.
Main Results:
- Patients with chronic severe hepatitis B exhibited significantly altered portal vein diameter, peak velocity, and volume compared to controls and other groups.
- Spleen dimensions were altered, and umbilical vein recanalization was more frequent in chronic severe hepatitis B patients.
- Progressive increases in portal vein diameter, spleen length, and spleen vein diameter were observed with the advancement from chronic hepatitis to decompensable cirrhosis.
Conclusions:
- Chronic severe hepatitis B is associated with a tendency towards acute portal hypertension and reduced portal vein perfusion.
- Monitoring portalsystemic hemodynamic changes provides valuable insights into the progression of chronic liver disease.
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