HYPERDYNAMIC CIRCULATORY STATUS IN CIRRHOTIC RATS

Splanchnic and systemic hemodynamics were evaluated in rats with CCI4 inducedcirrhosis.Blood flow and portal-systemic shunting were measured by radioactive microspheretechniques.All cirrhotic rats had portal hypertension (portal venous pressure l.657±0.066 vs1.223±0.036kPa; P0.001),but portal-systemic shunting in cirrhosis (35%±25%vs.0.34%±0.16%P0.05) was variable,ranging from 3% to 82. Portal venous inflow(i.e., the totalblood flow within the portal system) was increased(7.33± 1.3 vs.6.28± 0.18ml/min per l00g;P0.05).Total splanchnic arterial resistance was reduced(0.61 ± 0.4l vs.0. 9 ± 0.19kPa·m1-1 min-1;p0.05). Splanchnic hemodynamics demonstrated that portal hypertension wasmaintained,at least in part,by a hyperdynamic portal venous inflow. The hemodynamic datein cirrhotic rats provide evidence that supports the role of an increased portal blood flow inportal hypertention and gives a quantitative definition of splanchnic hemodynamics inintrahepatic portal hypertension.