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 on the pathogenesis of portal hemodynamics.Methods Plasma levels of glucagon 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 cirrhotic patients were significantly higher than those in controls and were increased with the severity of hepatic function impairment as assessed by Child-Pugh grade(P0.01).The patients with ascites showed significant higher plasma glucagon levels than those without ascites.Plasma levels of glucagon were positively correlated with portal veiniameters,splenic vein diameters and splenic vein flows(r=0.502,0.504 and 0.491,P0.01).Conclusion The increase of plasma glucagon levels reflects,in part,the severity of impairment of hepaticfunction.In addition,it may contribute to the pathogenesis of portal hypertension.