Low-dose dopamine improves effective hepatic blood flow in murine peritonitis

Diminished effective hepatic blood flow (EHBF) has been postulated as contributory to hepatocellular dysfunction in sepsis. In addition, dopamine has been demonstrated to increase perfusion to selective viscera. In order to examine the effects of peritonitis upon hepatic perfusion and its response to dopamine infusion, peritonitis was induced in rats via cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). Sixteen to 20 hours following insult, cardiac outputs were determined by thermodilution, and effective hepatic blood flow was determined by low-dose galactose clearance. Studies were performed in peritonitis-induced rats (CLP) and sham-operated controls with and without dopamine infusion for 30 minutes (0.5 microgram/100 g/min). Peritonitis resulted in a significant reduction in effective hepatic blood flow (p less than 0.01) despite a maintained cardiac output. Low-dose dopamine infusion resulted in a significant restoration of effective hepatic blood flow in CLP rats without altering cardiac output or hemodynamic status significantly. Dopamine may be beneficial in the maintenance of effective hepatic perfusion in peritonitis.