Relationship between Heart Disease and Liver Disease: A Two-Way Street

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Combined heart and liver dysfunctions are common due to complex cardio-hepatic interactions.
• Effective management of patients with heart or liver disease necessitates understanding these inter-organ relationships.
• Identifying cardio-hepatic crosstalk is crucial for improving patient prognosis and therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the complex crosstalk between the heart and liver in major pathological conditions affecting these organs.
• To summarize clinical, biochemical, and histological findings related to cardio-hepatic interactions.
• To discuss cardiac dysfunction in liver cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and post-liver transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on cardio-hepatic interactions.
• Synthesis of clinical manifestations, biochemical profiles, and histological findings.
• Discussion of cardiac dysfunction in various liver diseases.

Main Results:

• Cardiogenic ischemic hepatitis and congestive hepatopathy are key manifestations of heart failure impacting the liver.
• Cardiac dysfunction is a significant feature in liver cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
• Liver transplantation can lead to specific cardiac complications.

Conclusions:

• Understanding cardio-hepatic interactions is essential for managing patients with coexisting heart and liver diseases.
• This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical and pathological aspects of cardio-hepatic crosstalk.
• Further research into these interactions can lead to improved therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.