Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhosis - does adrenal function play a role? A hypothesis

Eleni Theocharidou, Aleksander Krag, Flemming Bendtsen, Søren Møller, Andrew K Burroughs

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM), a condition of unknown pathogenesis, is characterized by suboptimal ventricular contractile response to stress, diastolic dysfunction and QT interval prolongation. It is most often found in patients with advanced cirrhosis. It is clinically relevant during stressful conditions, such as sepsis, bleeding and surgery. CCM reverses after liver transplantation and potentially has a role in the pathogenesis of hepatorenal syndrome. In adrenal insufficiency (AI), cardiac dysfunction is a feature with low ejection fraction, decreased left ventricular chamber size and electrocardiographic abnormalities, including QT interval prolongation. With optimal diagnostic tests, AI is present in approximately 10% of patients with cirrhosis, particularly in those with advanced disease. Down-regulation and decreased number of beta-adrenergic receptors, and high catecholamine levels are common to both cardiac conditions. Thus, AI may play a role in CCM. Steroid replacement therapy reverses cardiac changes in AI, and may do so for CCM, with important therapeutic implications; this needs formal evaluation.

Original languageEnglish
JournalLiver International
Volume32
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1327-1332
Number of pages6
ISSN1478-3223
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2012

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