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Visualization and Analysis of Blood Flow and Oxygen Consumption in Hepatic Microcirculation: Application to an Acute Hepatitis Model
Published on: August 4, 2012
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Hepatic blood volume is decreased in patients with cirrhosis and does not decrease further after a meal like in
Michael Sørensen1,2,3
1Department of Hepatology & Gastroenterology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|July 31, 2021
Summary
Patients with cirrhosis have lower hepatic blood volume (HBV) and a blunted hemodynamic response to meals compared to healthy individuals. This study measured HBV and hepatic blood flow (HBF) in both groups before and after eating.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Medical Imaging
- Physiology
Background:
- Cirrhosis significantly impacts liver function and hemodynamics.
- Understanding the postprandial hemodynamic changes in cirrhosis is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify fractional hepatic blood volume (HBV) and hepatic blood flow (HBF) in cirrhosis patients and healthy controls.
- To assess the impact of a meal on HBV and HBF in both groups.
Main Methods:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) liver scans using O-CO were performed before and after a meal.
- Indocyanine green (ICG) infusion and blood sampling were used to calculate HBF via Fick's principle.
- HBV was determined by comparing O-CO concentration in liver tissue to arterial blood.
Main Results:
- Fasting HBV was significantly lower in cirrhosis patients (14 mL/100 mL tissue) than in healthy subjects (21 mL/100 mL tissue).
- Postprandial HBV decreased in healthy subjects but remained unchanged in cirrhosis patients.
- Hepatic blood flow (HBF) increased similarly in both groups after a meal.
Conclusions:
- Patients with cirrhosis exhibit reduced fasting hepatic blood volume.
- Cirrhosis patients demonstrate an impaired hemodynamic response to meals, with no decrease in HBV postprandially.
- These findings highlight a disturbed hemodynamic regulation in cirrhosis patients during physiological changes like eating.
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