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Abstract Background: Hepatic congestion is a frequent finding in patients with heart failure (HF). Physical examination has limitations in quantifying systemic congestion and requires correlation with echocardiographic and laboratory data (usually B-type natriuretic peptide, BNP, or N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide, NT-proBNP). Hepatic elastography evaluates liver stiffness using a transducer that transmits low-frequency vibrations (50 Hz), and the speed of shear waves propagating through the tissues is measured by ultrasound. The faster the vibrations propagate in the hepatic parenchyma, the stiffer the liver, which, in case of HF, can be correlated with hepatic congestion. Objective: In this systematic review, case-controls, cohort studies, and randomized clinical trials were searched in MEDLINE, LILACS and Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, to evaluate the use of elastography in the detection of hepatic congestion in patients with HF. Methods: From the 49 articles retrieved, seven were selected for review, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The most used methods for the diagnosis and evaluation of HF were echocardiography combined with BNP and NT-proBNP measurements. Results: Elastography performed at bedside was able to establish a significant correlation between increased liver stiffness and increased venous capillary pressure. In addition, liver elastography performed at hospital discharge was able to predict rehospitalization and mortality. Conclusion: Liver elastography is a non-invasive method that can be useful in predicting prognosis and mortality of individuals with HF, contributing to the clinical management of these patients.
Subject(s)
Elasticity Imaging Techniques/methods , Heart Failure/physiopathology , Heart Failure/diagnostic imaging , Prognosis , Cohort Studies , Natriuretic Peptides/blood , Heart Failure/mortality , Hospitalization , Liver Diseases/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the application value of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for postoperative monitoring after split liver transplantation. Methods Ten recipients undergoing split liver transplantation received conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography, color Doppler ultrasound (CDU) and CEUS. Clinical prognosis of 10 recipients undergoing split liver transplantation was summarized. The findings of postoperative conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography, CDU and CEUS were analyzed. Results Among 10 recipients, 8 cases obtained favorable clinical prognosis, one died from the recurrence and metastasis of malignant tumors and multiple organ failure, and one died from sudden cardiac arrest. CDU detected the hepatic artery in 8 of 10 recipients(80%). CEUS revealed hepatic artery embolism in one recipient and normal hepatic artery in the other case. Conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography demonstrated abnormality of the hepatic parenchyma in 5 recipients including hyperecho in S5 segment in 1 case, hypoecho in S7 segment in 1 case, hyperecho in S4 segment in 1 case, hypoecho followed by hyperecho in S5 and S6 segments in 1 case and multiple hypoecho and slight hyperecho in 1 case. CEUS revealed significant asynchrony in the microcirculation blood perfusion between the normal and abnormal echo regions, manifested with imaging features of early perfusion and early regression, which was considered to be associated with hepatic venous back-flow obstruction. Evident asynchrony in microcirculation blood perfusion between the normal and abnormal echo regions was observed in 1 case, manifested with the imaging features of early perfusion and synchronous regression,suggesting that congestion and edema on the hepatic resection surface caused by hepatic venous back-flow obstruction and myocardial infarction. Multiple intrahepatic abnormal blood perfusion region of 'fast-in and fast-out' echo was noted in 1 case, which was probably correlated with postoperative recurrence of malignant tumors. Conclusions CEUS is an effective supplement of conventional two-dimensional ultrasonography and CDU for postoperative monitoring after split liver transplantation, which contributes to understanding of hepatic blood flow and blood perfusion and identifying early postoperative complications after split liver transplantation.
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Objective To explore the role of portal venous pressure changes in the liver dysfunction caused by hepatic congestion after extended liver resection.Methods The experimental study was adopted.According to the random number table,90 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups,30 in each group:30 rats in the non-congestion group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe),30 rats in the congestion group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe) with whole caudal lobe congestion by ligation of veins and 30 rats in the congestion + splenectomy group received 70％ of liver resection (median lobe + left lobe) with whole caudal lobe congestion by ligation of veins and splenectomy.(1) Twenty rats in each group were used to make postoperative survival analysis.Ten rats in each group were used for related experiments.The portal venous pressures (PVPs) of 5 rats in each group were detected at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours,and then blood and liver specimens were collected.(2) PVP changes were detected at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours.(3) Clinical and biochemical test:level of total bilirubin (TBil) was tested at postoperative 12 hours and 24 hours.(4) Pathological examination:liver pathological damage was detected by HE staining.(5) The expression of CD68 macrophagocyte was detected by immunohistochemical staining.(6) The relative expressions of Cleaved Casepase-3 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) proteins at postoperative 24 hours were detected by Westein blot.(7) The relative expressions of mRNA of vascular regulation related genes (ET-1/eNOS) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-6) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).(8)The hyaluronic acid (HA) was measured by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA).Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as （x） ± s.Comparison among 3 groups was done using the ANOVA,and pairwise comparison was done by the LSD test.The postoperative 5-day survival curve was drawn by the KaplanMeier method,and the survival was compared using the Log-rank test.Results (1) Survival analysis:5-day survival rate in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were respectively 75％,10％ and 55％,with a statistically significant difference among the 3 groups (x2=18.21,P ＜0.05).(2)Changes of PVPs and TBil:levels of PVP and TBil in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were respectively (15.77 ±0.67)cmH2O,(18.33 ±0.28) cmH2O,(14.87 ± 0.58) cmH2O,(1.48 ±0.10)μmol/L,(1.76±0.15) μ mol/L,(1.62 ±0.11) μmol/L at postoperative 12 hours and (13.49 ± 0.45) cmH2 O,(16.96 ± 0.82) cmH2 O,(15.69 ± 0.85) cmH2 O,(1.47 ± 0.11) μmol/L,(1.94 ± 0.07) μmol/L,(1.67 ± 0.11) μmol/L at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =56.53,29.01,6.81,27.85,P ＜ 0.05).(3) Results of pathological examination:compared with noncongestion group,there were a lot of vacuolar cells with degeneration appearing in non-congestion liver tissues,severe liver cell swelling and hepatic sinus congestion in the congestion group at postoperative 24 hours.Compared with congestion group,vacuolar degeneration appearing in non-congestion liver tissues have some improvement in the congestion + splenectomy group.(4) Immunohistochemical staining:compared with non-congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group,the positive CD68 marked macrophages in the congestion group were increased at postoperative 24 hours.(5) Western blot assay:the relative expressions of Cleaved Casepase-3 and HIF-1α proteins in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group were 0.63 ± 0.05,1.17 ± O.18,0.95 ± 0.17 and 0.63 ± 0.14,1.48 ± 0.08,1.13 ± 0.17,respectively,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =17.42,50.58,P ＜ 0.05).(6) Results of RT-PCR:the relative expression of mRNA of ET-1/eNOS in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 1.01 ± 0.63,2.09 ± 0.27,0.82 ± 0.12 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.73 ± 0.17,2.16 ± 0.94,0.80 ± 0.24 at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =62.91,10.65,P ＜0.05).The relative expression of mRNA of TNF-α in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 0.99 ± 0.08,127.80 ± 13.15,7.34 ± 1.56 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.99 ± 0.06,116.62 ± 13.32,58.62 ± 12.12 at postoperative 24 hours,showing statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =436.77,154.54,P ＜ 0.05).The relative expression of mRNA of IL-6 in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively 0.98 ±0.06,1.87 ±0.34,1.54 ±0.15 at postoperative 12 hours and 0.99 ±0.05,2.02 ±0.27,1.51 ±0.11at postoperative 24 hours,with statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =22.08,46.71,P ＜ 0.05).(7) Results of ELISA:the level of HA in the non-congestion group,congestion group and congestion + splenectomy group was respectively (149 ± 9) ng/L,(200 ± 19) ng/L,(174 ± 9) ng/L at postoperative 12 hours and (136 ± 16) ng/L,(202 ± 13) ng/L,(91 ± 11) ng/L at postoperative 24 hours,with statistically significant differences among 3 groups (F =19.23,34.68,P＜0.05).Conclusions On the basis of extended liver resection,a wide range of liver congestion through increasing PVP causes hepatic microcirculation disorders,hypoxia,inflammation,vacuoles degeneration cells,increased cells apoptosis,aggravated damage of liver function and increased mortality of rats.Splenectomy could reduce PVP and then improve the liver tissues damage caused by liver congestion,meanwhile,increase the survival rate of rats.
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Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & J.W. Grimes, Fabaceae, is a native species of Brazil popularly known as "barbatimão", frequently found along the north coast of the state of Bahia. Local communities make an infusion from its stem bark, which is used to treat several diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxicity of A. cochliacarpos extracts in mice Mus musculus. The bark infusion and hydroalcoholic extract were administered nasogastrically into two groups of eight animals (four male and four female each). After 45 days all mice were killed and the livers were collected for further histological analysis. Hepatic steatosis, congestion of the hepatic vessels and medicinal plantspresence of macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrates in the liver, were observed in both steatosis group of animals, additionally animals that received the stem bark infusion presented an accumulation of pigments. None of the animals belonging to the negative control group showed any of the symptoms described above. In conclusion, the hydroalcoholic extract and infusion of A. cochliacarpos stem bark were proven to cause intoxication in mice. The hepatotoxicity of the infusion was more aggressive in females. Further studies are necessary to isolate compounds responsible for the toxic characteristics of A. cochliacarpos.
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<b>Background</b> : Several studies have shown that Fontan circulation may lead to liver congestion and possible structural liver alteration. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between biochemical fibrosis markers and hemodynamic parameters in the long term after the Fontan operation.<br><b>Methods</b> : The study enrolled 51 patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection between March 1994 and July 2010. We analyzed the relationships between the 5 liver fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid, retinol-binding protein, procollagen type III peptide, type IV collagen 7S, type IV collagen) and the 6 hemodynamic parameters (pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary artery index, pulmonary vascular resistance, ejection fraction, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, cardiac index).<br><b>Results</b> : Hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen 7S positively correlated with pulmonary artery pressure. Hyaluronic acid negatively correlated with ejection fraction, and type IV collagen 7S positively correlated with atrioventricular valve regurgitation in patients followed up for more than 8 years after Fontan completion. Pulmonary artery pressure was significantly higher in patients in whom type IV collagen 7S was elevated. Hyaluronic acid correlated with pulmonary vascular resistance (<i>p</i>=0.0035) and ejection fraction (<i>p</i>=0.014), as well as type IV collagen 7S with pulmonary artery pressure (<i>p</i>=0.0001) by multiple regression analysis.<br><b>Conclusion</b> : Hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen 7S reflected the degree of hepatic congestion, and cardiac function, in the long term after the Fontan operation.
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This report describes a patient with hepatic congestion due to right heart failure mimicking liver tumor. The patient had a history of breast cancer and left total mastectomy 30 years ago, tricuspid valve regurgitation and tricuspid valve replacement 4 years ago. Three years ago, abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed to evaluate inguinal hernia, which revealed multiple small hepatic nodules. After 1 year, the number and size of liver nodules were increased in CT scan. The patient underwent gun biopsy and histopathology revealed sinusoid enlargement. The patient recently had jaundice, abdominal distension, and peripheral edema. Liver dynamic CT scan was done to evaluate the palpable liver. The number and size of liver nodules were more increased in CT than 2 years ago. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), numerous variable sized ill-defined nodules replacing entire liver with progressing centripetal enhancement, which were suggestive of malignancy such as angiosarcoma, were noted. MRI finding suspects malignancy or hemangiosarcoma. Finally, the patient received repeated gun biopsy, and histopathology revealed findings compatible with hepatic congestion.