EVALUATION OF CARDIAC FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS: A HOSPITAL BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Cirrhosis is a pathologically defined as an entity associated with a spectrum of characteristic clinical manifestations like irreversible chronic injury of the hepatic parenchyma and include extensive fibrosis in association with the formation of regenerative nodules. Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhosis, a problem on the ‘blind side of the heart’, often remains ignored.

Methodology: This was ahospital based cross-sectional study, carried out under the department of medicine, SMIMER, Surat. All patients were informed about the study and their verbal consent was obtained. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria (n=50) were taken into study and all patients were studied for the clinical profile, laboratory investigation, imaging study like chest X-ray & Ultrasonography abdomen and 2D echocardiography. All patients were hospitalized and blood pressure and heart rate were measured.

Result: History of alcohol consumption was found in 36(72%) of the patients. Most common symptoms were ascitis, jaundice and malena. Mean total count was 7144(±1568). Mean blood urea level was 38.4(±19.78) while mean serum creatinin was 1.0(±0.72). Mean albumin level was 2.9 (±0.81). Mean serum billirubin total, direct and indirect was 6.1(±8.08), 4.35(±5.98), 1.8(±2.19) respectively. Diastolic dysfunction was present in about 66% (33 out of 50) of patients.

Conclusion: The patients of cirrhosis develop cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and this cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was not related to the etiology of liver cirrhosis.