Relationship between changes of portal system hemodynamics and levels of plasma glucagon in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Objective To investigate the changes of plasma levels of glucagon in cirrhotic patients and its effect in the pathogenesis of portal hemodynamics.Methods Plasma levels of glueagon were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA)in 42 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls.The max diameters,mean flow velocity,flow rate of the portal vein trunks(PV)and splenic veins(SV)were detected by Color Doppler Ultrasound.Results Plasma levels of glucagon in cir- rhotic patients were significantly higher than those in controls and were increased with the severity of hepatic function im- pairment as assessed by Child-Pugh grade.Patients with ascites showed signifieanthigher plasma glucagon levels than those without ascites.Plasma levels of glueagon were positively correlated with portal vein diameters,splenic vein diame- ters and splenic vein flows.Conclusion The increase of plasma glucagon levels reflects,in part,the severity of impair- ment of hepaticfunction.In addition,it may contribute to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension.