Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Investigating the Pathogenesis of MYH7 Mutation Gly823Glu in Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy using a Mouse Model
Published on: August 8, 2022
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy
Saleh A Alqahtani1, Tamer R Fouad, Samuel S Lee
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition in liver cirrhosis patients, impairs cardiac response to stress. Liver transplantation may improve this condition over time.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hepatology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Liver cirrhosis presents with cardiovascular abnormalities, including cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
- This condition is characterized by a suboptimal ventricular response to stress despite increased baseline cardiac output.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the understanding of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, its pathogenesis, clinical implications, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
- Analysis of the multifactorial pathogenesis, including beta-adrenergic signaling, cardiomyocyte dysfunction, and cardiodepressant substances.
- Evaluation of clinical manifestations and treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy involves impaired beta-adrenergic signal transduction, cardiomyocyte membrane dysfunction, and elevated cardiodepressant substances.
- While often subclinical, it can manifest as overt heart failure under stress (e.g., liver transplantation, TIPS).
- It may contribute to hepatorenal syndrome development.
Conclusions:
- Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a complex syndrome with significant clinical implications in liver disease.
- Current treatment is primarily supportive, with orthotopic liver transplantation showing potential for long-term improvement.
Abstract:
Liver cirrhosis is associated with several cardiovascular abnormalities. Despite an increased baseline cardiac output, cirrhotic patients have a suboptimal ventricular response to stress. This phenomenon is called cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is multifactorial and includes diminished beta-adrenergic receptor signal transduction, cardiomyocyte cellular plasma membrane dysfunction, and increased activity or levels of cardiodepressant substances such as cytokines, endogenous cannabinoids, and nitric oxide. Although cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is usually clinically mild or silent, overt heart failure can be precipitated by stresses such as liver transplantation or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion. Moreover, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy may play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome. Treatment of this condition is mainly supportive. Orthotopic liver transplantation appears to improve or normalize the condition, generally after a period of several months.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy II: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cirrhosis I: Introduction

