[Determination of hepatic blood flow in chronic liver diseases using the constant infusion technic]

Hepatic blood flow was measured in 10 cirrhotic patients by a constant infusion of Indocyanine Green (ICG) and details of the technique are analysed. A decrease in total hepatic blood flow (0.777 +/- 0.38 l/min.) was found in most of the patients. Different variations in hepatic blood flow were observed in three patients after the administration of Cimetidine (300 mg IV). The response in hepatic blood flow in another patient in whom a peritoneo-jugular valve (Le Veen shunt) was inserted in analysed.