Detection of early central circulatory transits in patients with cirrhosis by gamma variate fit of indicator dilution profiles

Abstract

Patients with cirrhosis have hyperdynamic circulation with abnormally distributed blood volume and widespread arteriovenous communications. We aimed to detect possible very early (i.e., before 4 s) and early (i.e., after 4 s) central circulatory transits and their potential influence on determination of central and arterial blood volume (CBV). Thirty-six cirrhotic patients and nineteen controls without liver disease undergoing hemodynamic catheterization were given central bolus injections of albumin with different labels. Exponential and gamma variate fits were applied to the indicator dilution curves, and the relations between flow, circulation times, and volumes were established according to kinetic principles. No significant very early central circulatory transits were identified. In contrast, early (i.e., 4 s to maximal) transits corresponding to a mean of 5.1% (vs. 0.8% in controls; P < 0.005) of cardiac output (equivalent to 0.36 vs. 0.05 l/min; P < 0.01) were found in cirrhotic patients. These early transits averaged 7.7 vs. 12.7 and 17.2 s of ordinary central transits of cirrhotic patients and controls, respectively ( P < 0.001). Early transits were directly correlated to the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference in the cirrhotic patients ( r = 0.46, P < 0.01) but not in controls ( r = 0.04; not significant). There was good agreement between the CBV determined by the conventional indicator dilution method and that determined by separation of early and ordinary transits by the gamma variate fit method (1.51 vs. 1.53 liter; not significant). In conclusion, no very early central circulatory transits were identified in cirrhotic patients. A significant part of the cardiac output undergoes an early transit, probably through pulmonary shunts or areas with low ventilation-perfusion ratios in cirrhotic patients. Composite determination of CBV by the gamma variate fit method is in close agreement with established kinetic methods. The study provides further evidence of abnormal central circulation in cirrhosis.