Cardiac changes in hepatic cirrhosis in Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital, Dharmapuri

Introduction: Cirrhosis liver, is characterized by diffuse destruction and regeneration of hepatic parenchymal cells leading to deposition of connective tissue with resulting disorganization of the lobular and vascular architecture. Despite the remarkable regenerative capacity of the liver, once hepatic parenchymal reserve is exceeded, clinically overt or decompensated cirrhosis ensues. Portal hypertension develops due to resistance to blood flow through the liver resulting increase in portal venous pressure leading to diversion of blood flow through low resistance portosystemic collaterals thereby bypassing the liver. The current study was designed to precisely evaluate the cardiovascular system in a group of patients with hepatic cirrhosis based on clinical examination. Aim of the study: To clinically evaluate patients with hepatic cirrhosis with respect to changes in heart rate, blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, ECG jugular venous pressure and precordial examination. Materials and Methods: 50 patients of cirrhosis liver were selected for the study. These patients were admitted in the general medical wards. All patients were subjected to routine investigations. All patients were subjected to ultrasound scan abdomen to confirm the diagnosis of cirrhosis. Patients with ascites underwent abdominal paracentesis and fluid was analyzed for protein content and cells. All patients were then subjected to electrocardiography, chest X-ray and M-mode 2-Dimensional echocardiography. Results: Out of the 50 patients studied 35 (70%) were males and 15 (30%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from 19 years to 75 years. 5 Patients (10%) were alcoholics, 14 patients (28%) had past history of jaundice or, 8 patients (16%) presented with haemetemesis. Among this 4 patients were HbsAG+ (8%) and 2 patients were diabetics 4%. All patients had sonographic evidence of cirrhosis.with portal hypertension. Out of 50 patients, 3 patients had elevated blood pressure. Previous studies show that the systolic blood pressure more than 160 mmHG and diastolic blood pressure more than 95 mmHg are the range for hypertension in cirrhotic patients. The electro cardiac gram showed an average heart rate of 82/ m. The low QRS voltage in chest leads and limb leads were found in 10 patients. T wave inversion was found in chest leads (V1 to V3 / V6) in 4 (8%) patients, in II, III avf in 7 patients (14%). The chest roentgenogram showed Hepatic Hydrothorax in 5 patients (10%). Cardio megaly was evident in chest X – ray in 11 patients (22%). Conclusion: The result of this study clearly showed that a large number of patients with hepatic cirrhosis are asymptomatic (40%) about cardiovascular system, have evidence of cardiac involvement in electrocardiography and echo cardiograph. cardiac decompensation in cirrhosis is rare despite the high output state and its presence as indicated by left ventricular systolic dysfunction.