[Study of arterial blood gases in liver cirrhosis with and without ascites].
OBJECTIVE
The study of the disturbances of arterial gases and the changes in the arterial pH which are present in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites and their modification after the disappearance of ascites by treatment.


METHODS
Open study,with protocol and prospective, to evaluate the changes in measurement of the arterial gases and acid-base, parameters in matching groups of patients.


METHODS
We include 24 patients, 15 males and 9 females, without preliminary or cardio-respiratory pathology age range between 37 and 77 years, average of 56.8 years, all of them diagnosed of liver cirrhosis of different etiologies and with important ascites. All of them finished the study.


RESULTS
In patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites a fall in the PaO2 and in the PaCO2 was demonstrated the pH in the upper limit of the normality compatible with hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis. After the disappearance of the ascites, a significant improvement in the PaO2 (p < 0.05), without any changes in the PaCO2 and pH values was apparent.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with liver cirrhosis, with or without ascites, hyperventilation is present, that can be multifactorial in origin, but which really has an unknown cause. We have found no relationship with the circulating levels of progesterone.
Ordiales Fernández
J J
JJ
Sección de Neumología, Hospital de León.
Fernández Moya
A
A
Linares Rodríguez
A
A
Colubi Colubi
L
L
Nistal de Paz
F
F
Allende González
A
A
Rodrigo Sáez
L
L
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen
Estudio de la gasometría arterial en cirrosis hepática con y sin ascitis.