Interrelation between esophageal varices, and systemic and hepatic hemodynamics in male patients with compensated cirrhosis.

The interrelation between endoscopic findings in esophageal varices, and systemic and hepatic hemodynamic abnormalities was studied in 76 male patients with compensated cirrhosis. Observation of these patients revealed a hyperdynamic systemic circulation, represented by an increased cardiac output and reduced total systemic vascular resistance with an enlarged circulating plasma volume and without an increase in heart rate, in comparison with 23 male patients with chronic hepatitis. In patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices, the hyperdynamic circulatory state was closely related to the condition of the varices, in which a progress in the form was accompanied by an advance in the degree of hyperdynamism with an increase in circulating plasma volume. Whereas the extent of the varices as indicated by the location was closely related to a rise in the wedged hepatic venous pressure. The shunt volume through the portal-systemic collaterals requires further study to elucidate the mechanism of hyperdynamic circulation.