Laparoscopic transhepatic manometry in portal hypertension in patients with alcoholic liver damage

Liver damage influenced by alcohol is already associated with the development of a portal hypertension at an early stage. With the aid of laparoscopic transhepatic manometry we determined the pressure levels in the branches of the portal and hepatic veins in 15 patients (16 examinations) comprising 14 men and 1 women, with alcoholic toxic liver damage. It was shown that already with alcoholic parenchymal damage associated with portal and centrolobular fibrosis, a portal hypertension is initiated, the greatest manifestation of which is found in the group with histological changes taking the form of a remodelling (distorsion of architecture) or cirrhosis. The level of alcohol consumption has no direct influence on the level of pressure in the vascular systems investigated. Ther is, however, a correlation between the level of alcohol consumption, extent of fibrosis and portal hypertension. For the clinico-chemical parameters investigated (Gamma-glob., GOT, GPT, GLDH, gamma-GT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin) no significant differences were found dependent on the level of alcohol consumption or the degree of fibrosis.