Changes in systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics after orthotopic liver transplantation in cirrhotic rats

Objective To investigate early changes in systemic and splanchnic hemodynam ics after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in normal and cirrhotic ra ts. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: normal control s (NL, n = 10), intrahepatic portal hypertension (IHPH, n = 10) induced by injection of CC14, normal rats with OLT (NL-OLT, n = 9) and IHPH rats with OLT (IHPH-OLT, n = 16). IHPH-OLT rats were divided into 2 subgroups: 3 days (Group A, n = 9) and 7 days (Group B, n = 7) after OLT. OLT was performed in rats using cuffs for the anastomosis of the suprahepatic inferior vena c ava, infrahepatic vena cava and portal vein. Two weeks after production of IHPH rats, 7 days after NL-OLT rats, 3 days and 7 days after IHPH-OLT rats, radioactive microspheres were used in a hemodynamic study. Results There were no significant differences in hemodynamic changes betwee n NL-OLT and NL rats, except mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). The charac teristics of systemic and splanchnic hyperdynamic circulatory state, includ ing increased cardiac output and splanchnic blood flow, decreased mean arte rial blood pressure, total peripheral vascular resistance and splanchnic va scular resistance were observed in IHPH, IHPH-OLT A, and IHPH-OLT B rats. T he magnitude of hyperhemodynamics was in the order of IHPH > IHPH-OLT A > I HPH-OLT B rats. Moreover, the derangement of splanchnic hyperhemodynamics w as more significant than that of systemic hyperhemodynamics. Conclusions The present study demonstrates that the persistence of early sy stemic and splanchnic hyperkinetic circulation after OLT may be the consequ ence of factors which maintain hyperhemodynamics in liver cirrhosis, where portal hypertension is not completely eliminated. Hyperhemodynamics is not induced by OLT per se.