G. Sansoe et al., BENEFICIAL HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF DIPYRIDAMOLE ON PORTAL CIRCULATION IN CIRRHOSIS, The American journal of gastroenterology, 93(3), 1998, pp. 429-433
Objective: Dipyridamole is a vasodilator that inhibits the cellular up
take of adenosine, which physiologically reduces the resistance to hep
atic arterial flow inside the liver. This study aims at assessing the
acute effect of dipyridamole on functional liver plasma flow (measured
as the extrarenal sorbitol clearance) and on the Doppler US Congestio
n Index of the portal vein (the ratio between the cross-sectional area
of this vein and the mean velocity of portal flow), which correlates
with the severity of portal hypertension. Methods: We have determined
the extrarenal sorbitol clearance (14 cases) and the Congestion Index
(seven cases) before and at 30, 60, and 90 min after the oral administ
ration of 25 mg dipyridamole in patients with liver cirrhosis. We also
measured the effect of dipyridamole on functional liver plasma flow i
n six healthy subjects. Results: Dipyridamole increased the extrarenal
sorbitol clearance in controls (+17%, p < 0.01) and in cirrhotic pati
ents (+15%, p < 0.01). The drug decreased the portal Congestion Index
in all patients, averaging -24% (p < 0.05) 90 min after its oral admin
istration. Conclusions: This result was due both to a mean decrease of
the portal sectional area and to a mean increase in portal flow veloc
ity. In conclusion, these data suggest that dipyridamole should decrea
se the vascular resistance to portal flow in cirrhosis; this effect ma
y be mediated by an adenosine-dependent vasodilation in the intrahepat
ic site or along the portosystemic collaterals. (C) 1998 by Am. Cell.
of Gastroenterology.