HEPATIC PERFUSION SCINTIGRAPHY - RELATIONSHIP OF LIVER PERFUSION AND ASCITES IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Radionuclide studies were performed on 38 patients with biopsy proven liver cirrhosis in an attempt to evaluate the interrelationship betwee n liver perfusion and ascites in cirrhotic patients, Quantitative hepa tic scintigraphy was used to evaluate the relative contribution of hep atic arterial and portal venous blood flow to the hepatic circulation, Using a gamma camera and on-line computer system, a bolus of 370 MBq Tc-99m pertechnetate was injected intravenously. Time activity curves of the abdominal aorta and right lobe of the liver were obtained using a region of interest analysis where arte arterial and portal componen ts were calculated. Ascites was determined by clinical examination and by ultrasonography. Of 38 patients, 10 patients (26.3%) showed normal liver perfusion (group A), 22 patients (58%) showed reduced portal ve nous perfusion (group B), and 6 patients (15.7%) showed pure arterial hepatic perfusion (group C), The incidence, as well as the advancement , of ascites were significant (P < 0.05) and were most frequent in gro up C, frequent in group B, and less frequent in group A, The results o f this study suggest that the development of ascites in patients with liver cirrhosis is closely correlated with the reduction in portal blo od perfusion.