Systemic and hepatic haemodynamic changes in acute liver
injury.
Makin, Aj, Rd Hughes, Roger Williams.
Institute of Liver Studies, King's College School of Medicine and
Dentistry, London SE5 9PJ, UK
APStracts 3:0237G, 1996.
Systemic and hepatic circulatory changes were studied in rats over the
course of acute liver injury. Hepatic injury was induced by
intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (1.1 g/kg) and systemic
and hepatic haemodynamics measured over a 72 hour period using a
radioactive microsphere technique with direct measurement of
arterial, portal venous and hepatic venous blood oxygen content.
Cardiac output increased to a maximum at 48 hours producing a marked
increase (450%) in hepatic arterial blood flow, so that it became the
dominant supply of oxygen at the time of maximal hepatic injury. A
subsequent increase in portal venous flow resulted in an overall
increase in total hepatic blood flow of 500%. At this point the
oxygen delivery by the hepatic arterial and portal venous systems was
equal. These circulatory changes returned to control values by 72
hours with recovery of liver function. These results demonstrate the
development of a hyperdynamic circulation and a marked change in the
normal relationship between portal venous and hepatic arterial blood
flows that occur during hepatic injury.
Received 10 April 1996; accepted in final form 30 September 1996.
APS Manuscript Number G131-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Gastrointest. Liver
Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 13 November 1996