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Hemodynamic study during transdermal application of nitroglycerin tape in patients with cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Iwao Tadashi,
Toyonaga Atsushi,
Sumino Michihiro,
Takagi Kohsuke,
Ohkubo Kazunori,
Inoue Rintaroh,
Tanikawa Kyuichi
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840130118
Subject(s) - medicine , portal venous pressure , nitroglycerin (drug) , portal hypertension , cirrhosis , placebo , hemodynamics , anesthesia , hepatology , transdermal , blood pressure , splanchnic circulation , cardiology , splanchnic , pharmacology , alternative medicine , pathology
We studied 14 patients with portal hypertension and cirrhosis using portal and hepatic vein catheterizations to determine the effects of transdermal application of nitroglycerin tape (containing 10 mg of nitroglycerin and capable of releasing 6 to 7 mg of nitroglycerin in 12 hr) on splanchnic hemodynamics. Patients randomly received nitroglycerin (n = 7) or a placebo (n = 7). No significant changes were observed after the administration of the placebo. In contrast, transdermal nitroglycerin caused a significant reduction in portal pressure, as evaluated by measurements of the portal venous pressure gradient (−22%, p < 0.01). The reduction of portal pressure was due to a decrease in the portal venous pressure, with no changes in the free hepatic venous pressure. Despite the fall in portal pressure, the hepatic blood flow was maintained. These findings suggest that transdermal nitroglycerin could be potentially useful in the treatment of portal hypertension associated with cirrhosis. (H EPATOLOGY 1991;13:124–128).