Abstract
Objective: The relation between splenomegaly and hepatic blood flow assessed was evaluated in patients with chronic liver diseases due to hepatitis C virus infection
Patients and Methods: Subjects were 159 patients receiving perflubutane-enhanced ultrasonography during the recent 6 years. Contrast-enhanced images in the right hepatic segment-5 and segment-6 as well as right kidney were recorded through the right intercostal space for 30 seconds following intravenous injection of perflubutane. The Arrival time Parametric Images reflecting hepatic parenchymal blood flows were constructed as follows; blood flows until 5 seconds after the injection were shown as red pixels and those at 5 seconds and later as yellow pixels, and the ratios of red pixels among total pixels were calculated (ratio of red; ROR). Also, the splenic volumes were measured on ultrasonography.
Results: The ROR values did not differ between patients with and without splenomegaly (p=0.059), but a weak correlation (r=0.29) was found between the values and splenic volumes.
Conclusion: In general, blood flows in the portal vein decrease, while those in the hepatic artery increase along with the progression of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Such changes in the hepatic hemodynamics, however, showed a minimal relation with the extent of splenomegaly.
