Relationship and interaction between serum sodium concentration and portal hemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis

Background and Aim To examine the relationship between hyponatremia and portal hemodynamics and their effect on the prognosis of cirrhosis. Methods Portal hemodynamic parameters measured by D oppler ultrasound and serum sodium concentrations were examined in 153 cirrhosis patients (mean age 62.2 ± 12.0 years; median observation period, 34.1 m). Results Study participants included 16 patients with hyponatremia ( Na  < 135 mEq/L), who showed a significantly greater frequency of possessing a splenorenal shunt ( SRS ; P  = 0.0068), and 137 patients without hyponatremia. Serum sodium concentrations were significantly lower in patients with SRS than in those without ( P  = 0.0193). An increased prothrombin time‐international normalized ratio was a significant predictive factor for developing hyponatremia a year later (8/96; Hazard ratio 14.415; P  = 0.028). The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in patients with hyponatremia (46.7% at 1 and 3 years) than in those without (91.8% at 1 year, 76.8% at 3 years; P  < 0.001). The cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in patients who had developed hyponatremia after 1 year (100% at 1 year, 62.5% at 3 years) than those who had not (100% at 1 year, 89.0% at 3 years; P  < 0.001). The cumulative survival rate was significantly worse in patients with both hyponatremia and SRS (20% at 1 year). Conclusions There was a close linkage between the serum sodium concentration and portal hemodynamic abnormality, presence of SRS , and their interaction may negatively influence the prognoses in cirrhosis.