An experimental study on the disturbance of liver circulation and the change of hemorrheology in dogs with acute liver damage.

The changes of hepatic hemodynamics and hemorrheology were investigated in dogs with acute liver damage induced by acetaminophen. There were remarkable disturbance in liver circulation and hemorrheological abnormality occurring in both slight and severe liver damage. The study indicated that the degree of disturbance in liver circulation as well as in hemorheological change is positively correlated with the severity of liver damage. For example, marked increase in blood viscosity linked with elevated fibrinogen level appeared in slight liver damage, whereas reduced blood viscosity associated with decreased plasma fibrinogen level and hematocrit occurred in severe liver damage. This study also revealed that the increase of portal venous resistance (PVR) and the disturbance of liver circulation in slight liver damage were chiefly related to the increase of blood viscosity and the increase of PVR in severe liver damage was mainly associated with the reduction of the radius of portal vein.