Prospective Analysis Of Cardiac Function In Cirrhotic Patients By Echocardiography And Its Correlation With Events
Prospective Analysis Of Cardiac Function In Cirrhotic Patients By Echocardiography And Its Correlation With Events
The cardiac abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis are already reported from the 50's, in
 studies of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Further studies have shown that these cardiac
 changes were caused not only by the myotoxic effects of alcohol, but also are present in many
 patients regardless of etiology of cirrhosis.

 These changes are characterized by abnormalities of systolic contraction in patients
 undergoing physical or pharmacological stress, changes in diastolic function and
 electrophysiological changes in a clinical condition known as cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
 Increased QT interval and the pre-ejection time changes are common in cirrhotic patients.

 To date no studies have evaluated the clinical relevance of changes in the heart of cirrhotic
 patients, or their relationship with the prognosis of affected patients. Til now, researches
 are based on strict echocardiographic parameters, not including several modern methods of
 assessment of cardiac systole and diastole. New techniques, such as two-dimensional strain,
 can bring new diagnostic and prognostic information, and it is not reported in the
 literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the morphological and functional
 cardiac changes in patients with cirrhosis and their prognostic role by evaluating new
 echocardiographic parameters of systolic and diastolic readings.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with cirrhosis of any etiology, diagnosed by clinical criteria and ultrasound
 and / or liver biopsy, which excluded patients with causes that also may affect
 cardiac function (hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, amyloidosis).

 -  Age between 18 and 80 years.

 -  Signing of written informed consent.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  History or presence of systemic arterial hypertension (treated or not)

 -  History or presence of ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease.

 -  Presence of greater than mild valvular disease.

 -  Patients who have a different rhythm in the baseline electrocardiogram, other than
 sinus (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, junctional rhythm).

 -  Presence of severe anemia (Hb <7 g / dL).

 -  Presence of shock, hepatic encephalopathy, bacterial infection or bleeding at
 inclusion or during the previous week.

 -  History or presence of severe or decompensated lung disease.

 -  Presence of percutaneous intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPS).

 -  Pregnancy.