ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hypertension may be a cause of sepsis, especially among cirrhotic patients. METHODS: In the present investigation we studied the response of the mononuclear phagocytic system in 25 female Holtzman rats divided into five groups of 5 animals each: A, sham-operated animals; and animals with portal hypertension induced by calibrated ligature of the portal vein at different times of evolution: B, 15 days; C, 30 days; D, 45 days; E, 60 days. After the period of observation, 1 MBq/kg 99mTc colloidal sulfur was injected through the caudal vein and the animals were sacrificed 30 minutes later. Blood samples were obtained for GOT, GPT and albumin determination and radioactive counts, and liver, lung, spleen and bone marrow samples were obtained for the determination of the proportional phagocytosis index per gram organ. The results were analyzed statistically by the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Increased radioactivity was observed in bone marrow and spleen and higher GPT levels were detected after 15 days. A reduction of splenic phagocytosis, an increase of pulmonary phagocytosis and increased GPT levels occurred after 30 days. In the 45-day group there was an increase in non-phagocytized particles remaining in blood, and in the 60-day group there was only and increase in GPT values. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that portal hypertension causes phagocytic alterations during the early phases in this experimental model.
