title: Reduction of portal pressure by chronic administration of isosorbide dinitrate in patients with cirrhosis: effects on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics and liver function.
abstract: We investigated the chronic effects of isosorbide dinitrate on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics and liver function in 13 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Placebo administration for 4 wk (n = 4) had no significant effects on these parameters. In contrast, oral administration of 40 mg/day of isosorbide dinitrate for 4 wk (n = 9) caused a significant fall in portal pressure (-18%, p less than 0.02), as evaluated by measurements of the hepatic venous pressure gradient with no modification in hepatic blood flow (from 0.72 +/- 0.29 to 0.71 +/- 0.34 L/min, NS), suggesting decreased intrahepatic or collateral vascular resistance. On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between the changes in mean arterial pressure and hepatic venous pressure gradient (r = 0.42). Thus, it seems unlikely that a reduction in portal blood inflow by baroreceptor-mediated reflex splanchnic vasoconstriction contributed to the fall in portal pressure. In addition, this drug had no adverse effects on liver function, as evaluated by measurements of the intrinsic clearance. These results suggest that chronic administration of isosorbide dinitrate could be a potentially useful and associated with cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toyonaga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate