Role of echo Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of postprandial hyperemia in cirrhotic patients

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the study patients

Age	48 ± 11.2
Male/Female	8/3
Alcoholic etiology (yes/no)	2/9
Child-Pugh Score	7.6 ± 2.3
Child-Pugh Class (A/B/C)	5/4/2
History of variceal bleeding
Yes	6
No	5
History of encephalopathy
Yes	4
No	7
History of ascites
Yes	6
No	5
History of SBP
Yes	2
No	9
ALT (IU/L)	52.27 ± 24.2
Total protein (g/L)	6.97 ± 0.9
Albumin (g/d)	3.52 ± 0.5
PT (s)	17.3 ± 2.9
Total bilirubin (mg/dL)	1.81 ± 0.5

ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; PT: Prothrombin time.

Table 2 Hemodynamic and echo-Doppler measurements of the study patients

	Baseline	Postprandial (15 min)	Postprandial (30 min)	P
Hemodynamic measurements
FHVP (mmHg)	14.2 ±3.6	15.2 ± 4.1	15.9 ± 5.9	NS
WHVP (mmHg)	30.5 ± 7.6	38.7 ± 11.8b	37.1 ± 10.4	< 0.05
HVPG (mmHg)	16.5 ± 6.7	23.7 ± 11.1d	21.2 ± 9.5	< 0.05a
Echo-Doppler measurements
PBF (L/min)	1.5 ± 0.9		2.4 ± 1.1	< 0.05
PBV (cm/s)	23.5 ± 11.6		32.9 ± 12.3	< 0.01
SMA-V (cm/s)	120.2 ± 23.3		158.1 ± 59.9	< 0.05
SMA-PI	2.8 ± 0.5		1.7 ± 0.2	< 0.05
Systemic measurements
MAP (mmHg)	85 ± 12.9		80 ± 9.6	< 0.05
Pulse Rate (min)	89.70 ± 21.2		85.3 ±13.3	< 0.05

^bP < 0.01 postprandial 15 min vs basal hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG);

^aANOVA statistics of basal, 15 min and 30 min measurements of hepatic vein catheterization;

^dP < 0.01 postprandial 15 min HVPG vs basal HVPG. FHVP: Free hepatic venous pressure; WHVP: Wedge hepatic venous pressure; PBF: Portal Blood Flow; PBV: Portal blood velocity; SMA: Superior Mesenteric Artery; PI: Pulsatility index; V: Velocity; MAP: Mean arterial pressure.