title: Enhanced portal flow velocity and volume following Iloprost treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied, with color Doppler sonography, portal flow velocity (PV) and volume (PFV) before and after Iloprost infusion.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Iloprost is a prostacyclin analogue with arterial vasodilator and platelet aggregation inhibitor properties. Recently, hemodynamic effects after treatment with Iloprost have been demonstrated in subjects with arteriopathy of lower limbs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 10 subjects (2 males and 8 females; mean age 64 +/- 8.2 years) affected by arteriopathy of lower limbs with intravenous infusion of Iloprost, at a dosage of 2 ng/Kg/min (16 hours/day) for 3 days. In all patients portal vein flow velocity (PV) (cm/s) and volume (PFV) (ml/min) were assessed. PV was directly determined by the Doppler system, whereas PFV was calculated using the formula "CSA x PV", after measuring the portal vein cross sectional area (CSA) (mm2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients showed markedly increased PV and PFV after Iloprost infusion (pre-Iloprost vs post-Iloprost treatment mean portal flow velocity and volume values: 23.12 +/- 3.89 cm/s vs 28.49 +/- 3.90 cm/s, p < 0.01 and 1743.9 +/- 241.7 ml/min vs 2271.7 +/- 333.5 ml/min, p < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms our previous results about increased PV and PFV values after Iloprost treatment. In the light of these results we suggest some possible therapeutic implications in patients undergoing liver transplantation. However, further studies are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (CIR), Laboratory of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. e.zardi@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ambrosino
authors.forename: Vito Michele
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrina
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frego
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016285:Iloprost