Physiopathology of splanchnic vasodilation in portal hypertension

作     者：María Martell Mar Coll Nahia Ezkurdia Imma Raurell Joan Genescà 

作者机构：Liver Diseases LaboratoryLiver UnitDepartment of Internal MedicineHospital Universitari Vall d' HebronInstitut de RecercaUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona 

出 版 物：《World Journal of Hepatology》 (世界肝病学杂志（英文版）（电子版）)

年 卷 期：2010年第2卷第6期

页      面：208-220页

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100201[医学-内科学(含：心血管病、血液病、呼吸系病、消化系病、内分泌与代谢病、肾病、风湿病、传染病)] 10[医学] 

基　　金：Supported by the Grants from the Ministerio de Educacióny Ciencia, No. SAF2006-0314 the Ministerio de Cienciae Innovación, No. SAF2009-08354 

主　　题：Liver cirrhosis Portal hypertension Splanch- nic vasodilation Hyperdynamic circulation Sympathetic nervous system 

摘      要：In liver cirrhosis, the circulatory hemodynamic alterations of portal hypertension signifi cantly contribute to many of the clinical manifestations of the disease. In the physiopathology of this vascular alteration, mesen- teric splanchnic vasodilation plays an essential role by initiating the hemodynamic process. Numerous studies performed in cirrhotic patients and animal models have shown that this splanchnic vasodilation is the result of an important increase in local and systemic vasodilators and the presence of a splanchnic vascular hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors. Among the molecules and factors known to be potentially involved in this arterial vasodilation, nitric oxide seems to have a crucial role in the physiopathology of this vascular alteration. However, none of the wide variety of mediators can be described as solely responsible, since this phenomenon is multifactorial in origin. Moreover, angiogenesis and vascular remodeling processes alsoseem to play a role. Finally, the sympathetic nervous system is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of the hyperdynamic circulation associated with portal hypertension, although the nature and extent of its role is not completely understood. In this review, we discuss the different mechanisms known to contribute to this complex phenomenon.