Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aetiology of the reduced systemic vascular resistance and abnormal 'filling' of the vascular bed in cirrhosis is still obscure. As increased concentrations of the potent vasodilator calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have recently been reported in cirrhosis, we related CGRP to central and peripheral haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Thirty-one cirrhotic patients and six control subjects underwent an investigation with determination of systemic haemodynamics and circulating CGRP. RESULTS: Circulating CGRP was significantly increased in patients with cirrhosis (P < 0.02) and covaried directly with the severity of cirrhosis (P < 0.02). The increased CGRP covaried negatively with the reduced systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.02), the reduced central blood volume (P < 0.01), and reduced central circulation time (P < 0.002) and positively with the non-central blood volume (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increased CGRP may play a role in the systemic vasodilatation in cirrhosis and may contribute to the abnormal distribution of the blood volume, which may lead to abnormal sodium and water handling.
| Translated title of the contribution | Relation of calcitonin gene-related peptide to systemic vasodilatation and central hypovolaemia in cirrhosis. |
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| Original language | English |
| Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| Pages (from-to) | 928-933 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| ISSN | 0036-5521 |
| Publication status | Published - 1996 |