title: Vasopressin and vasopressin plus nitroglycerin for portal hypertension. Effects on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics and coronary blood flow.
abstract: We measured the coronary, systemic, and splanchnic effects of vasopressin and vasopressin plus nitroglycerin in 8 stable patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Vasopressin (0.1-0.8 U/min) increased pressure in the hepatic vein, pulmonary artery and pulmonary capillaries. Wedged hepatic (portal) vein pressure was unchanged; the hepatic venous pressure gradient (wedged-free hepatic vein pressure) fell. Insignificant declines occurred in cardiac output, gastroesophageal collateral (azygous) blood flow, hepatic blood flow and coronary sinus (cardiac) blood flow. The addition of nitroglycerin (40-70 micrograms/min) reduced pressure in the hepatic vein, pulmonary artery and pulmonary capillaries, while increasing the hepatic venous pressure gradient. Wedged hepatic vein pressure did not change. Gastroesophageal collateral (azygous) flow increased markedly; cardiac output rose to a lesser degree. Coronary sinus and hepatic blood flow did not change. Nitroglycerin ameliorated the increases in systemic and pulmonary artery pressure produced by vasopressin but also tended to reverse the decline in the hepatic venous pressure gradient and markedly increased gastroesophageal flow. Neither drug significantly affected coronary blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Denver General Hospital, CO 80204-4507.
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Rector
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Hossack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014667:Vasopressins; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D007208:Indocyanine Green