[Status of the liver in children with cardiomyopathies (data from echographic study)]

In order to estimate the liver status and hemodynamics in children with non-rheumatic cardiomyopathies, 130 schoolchildren were examined. Of these, 60 children were diagnosed to have hypertrophic and 70 dilated cardiomyopathy. In both cardiomyopathy varieties, alterations in the liver were established to be of secondary character and associated with greater circulation abnormalities. The patients manifested an appreciable increase of the diameter of the hepatic veins and reduction in them of the blood flow rate. Adequate cardiotropic therapy brought about a noticeable decrease in the echographic signs of liver congestion.