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Mechanisms of extrahepatic vasodilation in portal hypertension

2008; BMJ; Volume: 57; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/gut.2007.144584

1468-3288

Martin Hennenberg, Jonel Trebicka, Tilman Sauerbruch, J Heller,

Biochemical effects in animals

In liver cirrhosis, abnormal persistent extrahepatic vasodilation leads to hyperdynamic circulatory dysfunction which essentially contributes to portal hypertension. Since portal hypertension is a major factor in the development of complications in cirrhosis, the mechanisms underlying this vasodilation are of paramount interest. Extensive studies performed in cirrhotic patients and animals revealed that this vasodilation is associated on the one hand with enhanced formation of vasodilators, and on the other hand with vascular hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors. The latter phenomenon has been termed “vascular hypocontractility”. It is caused by a combination of different mechanisms and factors described in this review.