title: Echocardiographic study in cirrhotic patient candidates for liver transplantation.
abstract: We studied 81 cirrhotic patients who were candidates for liver transplantation to evaluate frequently detected cardiac alterations by echocardiographic study. Patients were distributed into three groups: group 1 comprised alcoholic cirrhotic patients (n = 40); group 2, viral cirrhotic patients (hepatitis C or B virus) (n = 35); and group 3, patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 6). Cardiac chambers and diastolic functions were estimated by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography in M mode and Doppler. The most frequently detected cardiac structural alterations were left atrial diameter enlargement in 100% of the women and 40% of the men in group 1; 87.5% of the women and 15.4% of the men in group 2; and 33.3% of the women in group 3. Interventricular wall thickness enlargement in 50% of the women and 27.8% of the men in group 1, 25% of the women and 30.8% of the men in group 2, and 16.4% of the women in group 3. The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction was 45% in group 1, 32.3% in group 2, and 16.4% in group 3 (P > .05). There were no significant differences between the groups in cardiac chamber dimensions, left ventricular wall thickness, or prevalence of diastolic dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Hepatology Unit, Digestive Service, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: M-D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nogueras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olmedo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muffak-Granero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Villegas
authors.forename: J-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garrote
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Teresa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: J-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrón
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged