Ultrasonographic liver volume and echodoppler measured portal haemodynamic indices in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

ABSTRACT

This work was carried out on 35 adult male patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension as well as 10 normal healthy controls. All patients and controls were examined clinically then by ultrasonography and echodoppler for measurement of the liver volume, maximum portal vein blood flow velocity, mean blood flow volume and cross sectional area. The congestion index was determined. The liver volume was increased in 25 patients and decreased in 10. There was a significant decrease in mean blood flow velocity along with an increase of cross sectional area and congestion index particularly in cases with decreased liver volume. Moreover, the blood flow volume was decreased but less evidently in patients with shrunken liver. A negative correlation was recorded between the decreased liver volume and each of the portal vein cross sectional area, blood flow volume, congestion index and portal venous pressure