PHASE-SHIFT OF THE HEPATIC VEIN FLOW VELOCITY WAVE-FORM IN CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE - EXPERIMENTAL AND CLINICAL-STUDIES

We examined animal models and studied patients with chronic liver dise ase to evaluate phase shift of the flow-velocity waveform of the hepat ic vein (HV). We decided the Doppler-Pressure (DP) ratio using electro cardiography, the HV Doppler waveform and HV pressure curves, and we c alculated the DP ratios. In animal models, the mean DP ratio was 1.04 in controls, 0.68 in cirrhosis, and 1.22 in fatty liver. There were si gnificant differences among these groups (p < 0.005). In the clinical study, the mean DP ratio was 1.03 in controls, 0.95 in chronic hepatit is and 0.79 in cirrhosis. The DP ratio in the Cirrhosis Group was sign ificantly different from that in the Control Group (p < 0.001) and tha t in the Chronic Hepatitis Group (p < 0.05). We conclude that the DP r atio is decreased in certain hepatic disease states. (C) 1997 World Fe deration for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology.