Premium
Effects of vaso‐active agents on hepatic function and blood gases in patients with cirrhosis: A study of vasopressin and nitroglycerin
Author(s) -
IWAO TADASHI,
TOYONAGA ATSUSHI,
SUMINO MICHIHIRO,
TAKAGI KOHSUKE,
OHO KAZUHIKO,
OHKUBO KAZUNORI,
INOUE RINTAROH,
TANIKAWA KYUICHI
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1992.tb00952.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vasopressin , cirrhosis , nitroglycerin (drug) , hepatic function , anesthesia , cardiology , gastroenterology
The effects of vaso‐active agents on hepatic function and splanchnic oxygenation were studied in 17 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Eight patients received vasopressin (0.3 iu/min) and nine patients received nitroglycerin (50 μg/min). Both drugs caused a significant reduction in the portal venous pressure gradient. Vasopressin infusion significantly decreased intrinsic clearance of indocyanine green (‐23%, P <0.01). This may be due to a decreased hepatic perfusion (‐28%, P <0.01) and portal venous oxygenation (‐15% in portal venous oxygen tension, P <0.05). In contrast, no changes in hepatic perfusion and portal venous oxygenation were observed after nitroglycerin infusion. Nitroglycerin did not decrease intrinsic clearance of indocyanine green. These results suggest that vasodilators, rather than vasoconstrictors, might be welcome in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.