The portal pressure blood volume relationship in cirrhosis

Abstract

Portal pressure blood volume curves were derived in 13 cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and oesophageal or gastric varices by measuring portal pressure at 2 levels of blood volume. Portal pressure varied directly with blood volume. In 7 patients where portal pressure was measured at 3 levels of blood volume separated by 500 ml or more the portal pressure blood volume relationship was found to be approximately linear.