Relation of calcitonin gene-related peptide to systemic vasodilatation and central hypovolaemia in cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND
The aetiology of the reduced systemic vascular resistance and abnormal 'filling' of the vascular bed in cirrhosis is still obscure. As increased concentrations of the potent vasodilator calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) have recently been reported in cirrhosis, we related CGRP to central and peripheral haemodynamics in patients with cirrhosis.


METHODS
Thirty-one cirrhotic patients and six control subjects underwent an investigation with determination of systemic haemodynamics and circulating CGRP.


RESULTS
Circulating CGRP was significantly increased in patients with cirrhosis (P < 0.02) and covaried directly with the severity of cirrhosis (P < 0.02). The increased CGRP covaried negatively with the reduced systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.02), the reduced central blood volume (P < 0.01), and reduced central circulation time (P < 0.002) and positively with the non-central blood volume (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that increased CGRP may play a role in the systemic vasodilatation in cirrhosis and may contribute to the abnormal distribution of the blood volume, which may lead to abnormal sodium and water handling.
Møller
S
S
Dept. of Clinical Physiology, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Bendtsen
F
F
Schifter
S
S
Henriksen
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide