Effect of oral propranolol on splanchnic oxygen uptake and haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis

In order to elucidate the effect of beta-adrenergic blockade on liver metabolism and haemodynamics, splanchnic oxygen uptake, hepatic removal of indocyanine green (ICG) and splanchnic and systemic haemodynamics were studied in 13 patients with cirrhosis before and 1.5-2 h after an oral dose of 80 mg propranolol. All patients underwent hepatic vein catheterization and had a primed continuous intravenous infusion of ICG. Azygos vein catheterization was performed in six patients. Splanchnic (hepatic-intestinal) oxygen uptake (median control 68 ml/min vs. beta-blockade 56 ml/min, P less than 0.01), azygos venous oxygen saturation (76 vs. 67%, P less than 0.05), ICG clearance (263 vs. 226 ml/min, P less than 0.01), wedged-to-free hepatic vein pressure (16 vs. 13.5 mm Hg, P less than 0.01), hepatic blood flow (1.18 vs. 0.78 l/min, P less than 0.01), cardiac index (3.42 vs. 2.53 l/min . min 2, P less than 0.01), and heart rate (72 vs. 56 beats per min, P less than 0.01) decreased significantly after oral beta-blockade. The hepatic extraction ratio of ICG increased significantly (0.32 vs. 0.45, P less than 0.01), whereas estimated 'intrinsic' ICG clearance (289 vs. 300 ml/min, n.s.), arterial blood pressure, stroke volume, and systemic vascular resistance remained essentially unchanged. The results indicate that besides the well-known cardiovascular effects of propranolol, beta-adrenergic blockade may also reduce hepatic metabolic functions as evidenced by the significantly decreased splanchnic oxygen uptake. The raised hepatic extraction ratio of ICG may be caused by reduction in hepatic blood flow as well as in intrahepatic shunting.