彩色多普勒在经颈静脉肝内门体分流术治疗肝硬化门静脉高压症患者中的应用

采用彩色多普勒超声显象仪在经颈静脉肝内门体分流术（ＴＩＰＳ）治疗８例肝硬化门静脉高压（ＣＰＨ）食管静脉曲张出血患者治疗前后测定患者门静脉血液动力学改变。方法采色多普勒超声显象仪测定ＴＩＰＳ术前以及术后一、三周门静脉血流速度们静脉血流量。结果术前门静脉血流速度、门静脉血流量为１０．２６±４．２５ｃｍ／ｓ、１１４５．３６±４３６．５２ｍｌ／ｍｉｎ,术后一、三周增高至２１．７０±５８９ｃｍ．ｓ、１９．７２±５．２４ｃｍ／ｓ和２２３８．７９±９７１．４ｍｌ／ｍｉｎ、２０５４．７１±８８０．５６ｍｌ／ｍｉｎ,Ｐ＜０．０１、０．０５。门静脉压力由３．６±０．７ｋＰａ降至１．７３±０．３５ｋＰａ,Ｐ＜０．０１。结论肝硬化门静脉高压症患者ＴＩＰＳ术前及术后进行彩色多普勒门静脉显象测定,可以了解门静脉血流状态、血管走行、有无血栓,对适应症的选择和判断预后有一定价值。     

梗阻性黄疸内毒素血症与细胞免疫功能的关系

目的研究梗阻性黄疸免疫功能及其与内毒素血症的相关性．方法检测２８例梗阻性黄疸患者及２０例健康对照者血清内毒素，Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群及血清ＳＩＬ２Ｒ的水平．结果梗阻性黄疸患者血清内毒素和ＳＩＬ２Ｒ水平较对照组明显升高（４７０ｎｇ／Ｌ±１１３ｎｇ／Ｌ和７２５ｋＵ／Ｌ±２０１ｋＵ／Ｌｖｓ２８４ｎｇ／Ｌ±１０３ｎｇ／Ｌ和３２４ｋＵ／Ｌ±１１６ｋＵ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００１），Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群ＣＤ３，ＣＤ４，ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８明显降低（５０４％±３３％和２９９％±３８％ｖｓ６３８％±４４％和３８３％±２８％，Ｐ＜００１；１２２±０３２ｖｓ１４３±０３７，Ｐ＜００５），同时亦发现梗阻性黄疸内毒素血症组较非内毒素血症组ＣＤ３，ＣＤ４水平明显减低，ＳＩＬ２Ｒ水平明显升高（４７４％±５１％和２７６％±５２％和８６７ｋＵ／Ｌ±２３１ｋＵ／Ｌｖｓ５２３％±５２％和３１２％±４３％和６７４ｋＵ／Ｌ±１８９ｋＵ／Ｌ，Ｐ＜００５）．相关分析显示血清内毒素水平与血清ＳＩＬ２Ｒ水平呈显著正相关（ｒ＝０８５１７，Ｐ＜００１）．结论梗阻性黄疸时内毒素血症与免疫功能状态密切相关．     

超声显像预测肝硬变上消化道出血的危险性

目的研究Ｂ超显像预测门脉高压上消化道出血的危险性．方法１９９０年～１９９６年采用Ｂ型超声诊断仪探测１４２例（非出血组１０８例，出血级３４例）肝炎后肝硬变患者肝门静脉、脾门静脉的直径，并与慢性肝炎７５例作为对照．结果肝门静脉、脾门静脉直径与食管胃底静脉曲张发生率有关．肝硬变上消化道出血组肝门静脉（１５１ｃｍ±０２０ｃｍ）、脾门静脉（１１８ｃｍ±０２８ｃｍ）直径明显大于肝硬变非出血组（１１９ｃｍ±０２３ｃｍ，０９４ｃｍ±０１８ｃｍ，Ｐ＜００１）．肝门静脉、脾门静脉直径与上消化道出血率呈正相关（ｒ＝０９９，Ｐ＜００１）．肝门静脉≥１５ｃｍ，脾门静脉≥１１ｃｍ，可作为预测上消化道出血的警戒线．２２例门脉高压患者应用普鲁纳洛治疗，治疗后显示肝门静脉、脾门静脉直径较前缩小．结论应用Ｂ超显像测定静脉直径可预测肝硬变上消化道出血的危险性，亦可作为观察降门脉压力药物疗效的指标．     

大肠癌患者促胃液素检测的临床意义

目的研究大肠癌患者血清及癌细胞内促胃液素（Ｇａｓ）水平及临床意义．方法采用ＲＩＡ法检测３５例大肠癌患者血清和癌细胞及癌旁粘膜细胞内Ｇａｓ水平．结果大肠癌患者术前、术后血清Ｇａｓ水平与对照组无显著差异（Ｐ＞００５），根治术后明显低于术前（２９ｎｇ／Ｌ±５ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ３５ｎｇ／Ｌ±１２ｎｇ／Ｌ，ｔ＝２７７２，Ｐ＜００１），在高分化（３６ｎｇ／Ｌ±１６ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ２８ｎｇ／Ｌ±５ｎｇ／Ｌ）和中分化腺癌组中（３８ｎｇ／Ｌ±７ｎｇ／Ｌｖｓ２７ｎｇ／Ｌ±３ｎｇ／Ｌ）差异显著（ｔ＝２１５２和２３５６，Ｐ＜００５）．大肠癌细胞内Ｇａｓ水平明显高于癌旁３ｃｍ和６ｃｍ粘膜（２１３ａｇ／细胞±７２ａｇ／细胞ｖｓ１４７ａｇ／细胞±３６ａｇ／细胞，１３９ａｇ／细胞±３２ａｇ／细胞；ｔ＝４８９１和５６１３，Ｐ＜００１）和正常粘膜（１３６ａｇ／细胞±４６ａｇ／细胞；ｔ＝２５３４，Ｐ＜００５），高分化腺癌明显高于低分化和粘液腺癌（２４１ａｇ／细胞±７８ａｇ／细胞ｖｓ１６１ａｇ／细胞±４６ａｇ／细胞，ｔ＝２５０５，Ｐ＜００５）．结论大肠癌细胞可通过自分泌方式分泌Ｇａｓ，Ｇａｓ升高是大肠癌分化良好的标志     

当归对肝硬化门脉高压影响的临床与实验研究

目的和方法：通过对胆管结扎肝硬化犬门脉系压力的直接测定，超声多普勒监测肝硬化患者的门脉血流，研究当归对肝硬化门脉血流动力学的影响。结果：（１）当归静脉给药，肝硬化犬的门静脉压（Ｐｐｖ）、嵌塞肝静脉压（ＷＨＶＰ）、肝静脉压力梯度（ＨＶＰＧ）显著降低（Ｐ＜００５～００１），平均动脉压（ＭＡＰ）、心率（ＨＲ）无明显变化（Ｐ＞００５）；（２）当归口服用药后（１０～１２周），肝硬化患者门静脉内径（Ｄｐｖ）、脾静脉内径（Ｄｓｖ）、脾静脉血流量（Ｑｓｖ）显著降低（Ｐ＜００５～００１），门静脉血流量（Ｑｐｖ）降低无显著意义（Ｐ＞００５）。结论：用药后，患者症状与肝功能（ＡＬＴ）部分好转，未见副作用。表明，当归为降低门静脉高压安全有效的药物     

冬虫夏草多糖治疗慢性丙型肝炎患者的临床研究

目的研究冬虫夏草多糖（ＣＰ）治疗慢性丙型肝炎的疗效．方法慢性丙型肝炎患者２１例，口服ＣＰ１５ｍＬ，３次／ｄ，连服３ｍｏ，治疗前后检测肝功能、血清肝纤维化标志物外周血Ｔ细胞亚群及ＮＫ活性的变化．结果慢性丙型肝炎患者经ＣＰ治疗后，血清ＡＬＴ（Ｕ／Ｌ，６１±３５ｖｓ３５±１５）及ｒＧＴ（Ｕ／Ｌ，１６９±８５ｖｓ１１８±５２）较治疗前显著降低（Ｐ＜００５）．血清ＨＡ（μｇ／Ｌ，２９３±１０９ｖｓ２１４±９６）、ＰⅢＰ（μｇ／Ｌ，１４３±４８ｖｓ１１４±４２）及ＣⅣ（μｇ／Ｌ，２４５±９８ｖｓ１８８±８７）均较治疗前显著下降（Ｐ＜００１，＜００５及＜００５）；ＣＤ４（３６４％±６６％ｖｓ４１０％±５６％）、ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８（１１４±０４０ｖｓ１４３±０２２）、ＮＫ（１６７％±４６％ｖｓ１９７％±４２％）均较治疗前显著增加（Ｐ＜００１），而ＣＤ８（３２６％±４７％ｖｓ２８９％±３７％）则明显降低（Ｐ＜００５）；血清胆红素略减、清蛋白略增但差异均无显著性．结论冬虫夏草多糖可以增强慢性丙型肝炎患者细胞免疫功能，改善肝功能，并具有一定的抗纤维化作用     

门静脉高压患者门静脉压力与血流动力学的相关性研究

目的 探讨门静脉高压患者门静脉血流动力学的变化特点及其与门静脉压力的相互关系。方法 采用彩色多普勒超声对４１例肝硬化门静脉高压患者（Ｃｈｉｌｄ Ａ、Ｂ级３１例、Ｃ级１０例）于手术前检测门静脉（ＰＶ）、脾静脉（ＳＶ）和肠系膜上静脉（ＳＭＶ）的内径和血流速度，再计算出相关的面积和血流量；于手术时对３１例ＣｈｉｌｄＡ十Ｂ级患者直接测量门静脉压力。３２例健康人和２６例慢性乙型肝炎患者（慢肝组）作为对照。结累 门静脉高压两组患者ＰＶ、ＳＶ和ＳＭＶ内径（ｃｍ）分别为１．５１和１．５２、１．３２和１．３４及１．１５和１．１５较慢肝组和正常组明显增宽，ｒ分别为１．３１和１．１６、０．９６和０．７９及０．９１和０．８２（Ｐ＜０．０１）；血流速度较正常组和慢肝组明显减慢（Ｐ＜０．０１）；门静脉高压Ｃ级组门静脉血流速度（ｃｍ／ｓ）为４．６５较门静脉高压Ａ十Ｂ级组（６．４２）明显减慢（Ｐ＜０．０１），而两组 ＳＶ和 ＳＭＶ的血流速度则差异无显著意义（Ｐ＞０．０５）；门静脉高压 Ａ＋Ｂ级组三条静脉的血流量明显大于正常组和慢肝组（Ｐ＜０．０１或Ｐ＜０．０５）；门静脉高压Ｃ级组门静脉血流量明显小于Ａ十Ｂ级组（Ｐ＜０．０１）；而ＳＶ和ＳＭＶ的血流     

糖尿病肾血流变化的彩色多普勒超声观察

用彩色多普勒血流显象（ＣＤＥＩ）和脉冲多普勒超声心动图（ＰＤＥ）检测２６例肾功能正常的非胰岛素依赖型糖尿病病人及２０例正常人的双侧肾动脉血流，以探讨糖尿病肾病血流动力学改变。糖尿病病人与正常人对照，肾动脉内径增宽（Ｐ〈０．０１），血流量增加（Ｐ〈０．０１），搏动指数及阻力指数降低（Ｐ〈０．０５）。结果表明，糖尿病临床肾病前期呈高灌注、低阻力改变。提示ＣＤＦＩ和ＰＤＥ可为临床异期发现糖尿糖尿病肾病提     

亚硒酸钠对胃粘膜细胞非程序DNA合成、LPO和ras P21表达的影响

目的研究亚硒酸钠对甲基硝基亚硝基胍（ＭＮＮＧ）所致胃粘膜细胞损伤的防护作用．方法观察了亚硒酸钠对ＭＮＮＧ所致胃粘膜细胞非程序ＤＮＡ合成（ＵＤＳ）、脂质过氧化物（ＬＰＯ）和ｒａｓＰ２１表达的影响．结果胃粘膜细胞先用１０μｍｏｌ／Ｌ或１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ亚硒酸钠预处理４ｈ，再给ＭＮＮＧ组细胞的非程序ＤＮＡ合成水平（ｃｐｍ／×１０－６ｍｉｎ－１，１１６６±１５６或１５６６±１８７ｖｓ１８３８±２０５，Ｐ＜００１～００５），脂质过氧化物（２０ｄ，μｍｏｌ／Ｌ，４５±０６或４７±０６ｖｓ７４±０７，Ｐ＜００１）和ｒａｓＰ２１蛋白含量（２０ｄ，Ａ，０６８±００８或０８６±００７ｖｓ１０８±０１１，Ｐ＜００１～００５）均显著低于ＭＮＮＧ组．结论一定剂量亚硒酸钠对ＭＮＮＧ诱导的胃粘膜细胞损伤有防护作用．     

肝动脉栓塞致胃粘膜损伤的实验研究

目的研究肝动脉栓塞致胃粘膜损伤的机制．方法日本大耳白兔３２只，随机分为３组：正常组８只，假手术对照组８只，肝动脉栓塞组１６只．用超液态碘油制兔部分肝动脉栓塞模型．在手术前后，用放免法测定其血浆中内皮素（ＥＴ）水平，直接穿刺门静脉测压，激光多谱勒血流仪测定其胃粘膜血流量（以电压Ｖ表示），并观察胃粘膜组织形态学改变．结果肝动脉栓塞术后３ｄ和６ｄ兔血浆ＥＴ（ｎｇ／Ｌ，２１５±３５，２１５±４７）显著高于假手术对照组（１５５±２８，１４６±２８，Ｐ＜００１）．肝动脉栓塞术后６ｄ，其门静脉压力（ｋＰａ，１０９±０１０）明显高于对照组（０８５±００７，Ｐ＜００５）．胃粘膜血流量（３６４Ｖ±０７７Ｖ）显著低于正常组（４８１Ｖ±０４２Ｖ，Ｐ＜００５）和假手术对照组（４６５Ｖ±０３２Ｖ，Ｐ＜００５）．胃粘膜损害发生率（６８８％）显著高于对照组（２５０％，Ｐ＜００５）．结论肝动脉栓塞可使其血浆ＥＴ水平明显升高，门静脉压力增加，胃粘膜血流量下降，从而导致胃粘膜损伤     

彩色多普勒血流显像监测肝移植术后门静脉并发症

目的探讨彩色多普勒血流显像技术（CDFI）监测对肝移植术后门静脉并发症的诊断价值.方法应用CDFI对504例原位肝移植患者进行术前和术后连续监测.术前监测内容包括门静脉主干直径、血流速度及有无门静脉栓塞等;术后监测内容包括门静脉供体段、受体段、吻合口的直径、管腔内回声、血流方向及血流速度等.结果术后当日门静脉平均血流速度为46.27 cm/s,最小流速为15.8 cm/s,最大流速为110.8 cm/s.358例（71.03%）血流速度＞40 cm/s.30 d后,347例（68.85%）流速降至40 cm/s以下.64例（12.70%）出现离肝血流,1例（0.20%）出现完全离肝血流.门静脉并发症13例（2.58%）,包括4例（0.79%）栓塞（3例血栓、1例瘤栓）,9例（1.79%）吻合口周围狭窄.结论异常门静脉血流信号不一定均出现并发症,连续动态观察门静脉血流的变化更有价值,因此,CDFI技术对监测肝移植术后门静脉并发症的诊断具有重要作用.     

肝硬化食道静脉曲张的门脉血流动力学改变及相关参数的研究分析

目的通过探讨乙肝肝硬化食道静脉曲张患者的门脉血流动力学改变,遴选敏感预测食道静脉曲张程度的相关彩色多普勒指标。方法肝硬化组80例,对照组30例,均经内镜检查,将食道静脉曲张程度分为轻、中、重度。彩色多普勒超声（CDFI）测定门静脉主干（PV）、脾静脉（SV）、肠系膜上静脉（SMV）及胃左静脉（LGV）四条静脉血管内径（D,cm）、平均血流速度（V,cm/min）,血流量（Q,ml/min）。结果 1.肝硬化组VPV、VSV、VSMV较对照组明显减低、VLGV的流速较对照组明显增快,DPV、DSV、DSMV、DLGV较对照组增宽,Qsv、Qpv、QLGV、QSMV均较对照组明显增多,肝硬化组Qsv/Qpv为54.5%,高于对照组的30.3%。2.随食道静脉曲张程度的加重,DPV逐渐增加、VPV逐渐下降、DLGV、VLGV、QLGV均明显增加,重度组均可见＂红色征＂,其中（＋＋）者为92.3%（36/39）。3.对照组LGV血流均呈向肝型,在肝硬化组中可见向肝、离肝、双向三种血流方向,肝硬化组中81.25%为离肝型血流,5%为双向型血流,13.75%为向肝型血流,其中重度组的离肝型血流比例高达94.9%。结论肝硬化门脉高压时PV、SV、SMV及LGV的血流动力学均有明显的改变,可作为判断食道静脉曲张程度的敏感、无创性诊断指标,其中LGV血流动力学指标在判断重度食道静脉曲张方面具有更重要的临床价值。     

Effect of obstructive jaundice on hemodynamics in the liver and its clinical significance

BACKGROUND:Many diseases can cause obstructive jaundice and then lead to a series of pathologic disorders. Thus preoperative assessment of liver function is of utmost importance.Traditional assessment is to monitor related indicators of liver function,but it is invasive and needs to be performed repeatedly.Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI)was used to monitor blood flow of the hepatic artery and portal vein,a non-invasive method which can be used repeatedly. METHODS:Twenty cases of obstructive jaundice were ...     

Influence of the degree of liver failure on portal blood flow in patients with liver cirrhosis

Portal vein haemodynamics as demonstrated by the pulsed Doppler system were studied in 37 patients with cirrhosis who had been classified in three groups (A, B, and C) in accordance with the degree of liver failure. Maximal inner diameter of the portal vein was significantly lower in patients who were considered to be in good condition (group A) than in patients with moderate and severe liver failure (group B and group C) (p less than 0.001). A significant difference was also found between group A and group B and between group A and group C with regard to the portal blood velocity and portal blood flow (p less than 0.001). In accordance with the presence and size of the oesophageal varices, in patients with large varices the portal blood velocity and portal blood flow were significantly lower than in patients without varices (p less than 0.001), whereas maximal inner portal vein diameter was significantly higher (p less than 0.001). This study demonstrated that in patients with cirrhosis circulatory alterations in the portal vascular bed may be, at least in part, an indicator of the stage of liver disease.     

Echo-Doppler evaluation of acute flow changes in portal hypertensive patients: flow velocity as a reliable parameter

In order to evaluate the behavior of the portal vein cross-sectional area during changes in portal flow, two groups of subjects were analyzed in two blinded cross-over studies using echo-Doppler flowmetry. The first group (I) consisted of 21 patients with cirrhosis and 16 controls. They received a standardized meal which is known to increase portal flow. The second group (II) consisted of 31 patients with cirrhosis who received a dose of propranolol which is known to decrease portal flow. In Group I, 30 min after the meal, the portal vein blood velocity increased by 35 +/- 6% (p less than 0.01) in cirrhotic patients and by 55 +/- 5% (p less than 0.01), in normal subjects. The portal vein cross-sectional area increased significantly in normal subjects (22 +/- 2%, p less than 0.01) but not in cirrhotic patients (4 +/- 2%, n.s.). In Group II, 2 h after propranolol, there was a significant decrease in portal blood velocity (-14 +/- 2%), whereas the portal vein cross-sectional area did not show any significant changes. These data demonstrate that, in portal hypersensitive patients, the portal area measured by echo-Doppler flowmetry can be assumed to be constant and hence its calculation to estimate changes in portal blood flow can be omitted. Therefore, the use of blood velocity alone is suggested to monitor acute changes in flow in portal hypertension using Doppler flowmetry. The elimination of the portal vein cross-sectional area measurement simplifies the quantitative calculation of portal hemodynamics and increases the reliability of the technique by avoiding a source of error.     

Effects of posture change on the hemodynamics of the liver

BACKGROUND/AIMS: According to our experience, blood flow in the portal vein may alter according to body posture. It is reported that decreased portal venous flow immediately gives rise to significantly increased blood flow in the hepatic artery. To gain further insight into blood flow changes affected by posture, we examined blood flows in the portal vein, hepatic artery and hepatic vein at different postures. METHODOLOGY: Using a Doppler ultrasound system, the hemodynamics of the portal vein, right hepatic artery, and hepatic vein were examined in 35 patients at supine and left decubitus positions. RESULTS: Portal vein blood flow volumes were significantly lower in the left decubitus position than in the supine. In the right hepatic artery, the left decubitus position gave significantly higher blood flow velocity values than the supine. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that upon change of posture from the supine to left decubitus position, portal vein flow velocity was reduced and hepatic artery flow velocity increased. Changes in portal and hepatic arterial flows by changing posture may be explained by decreased portal flow as a direct result of changed posture, leading to increased hepatic arterial flow to maintain total hepatic blood inflow.     

Obstructive jaundice promotes bacterial translocation in humans.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Significant bacterial translocation was demonstrated following experimental biliary obstruction, however very little is known about the importance and the prevalence of gut-origin sepsis in obstructive jaundice patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the concept of gut-origin sepsis in obstructive jaundiced patients and its clinical importance. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-one patients requiring laparotomy for obstructive jaundice (group I) and thirty patients operated on electively mainly for chronic cholecystitis (group II) were studied. Peritoneal swab, mesenteric lymph node, portal venous blood, liver wedge biopsy and bile were sampled for culture immediately after opening the peritoneum. Additionally, peripheral blood samples were taken pre- and post-operatively from all patients. Post-operatively, patients were monitored for infectious complications. RESULTS: The mean serum bilirubin concentration, gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase levels in jaundiced patients before therapeutic intervention were significantly higher than in control patients. Five patients demonstrated bacterial translocation in group I (24%), whereas only one did so in group II (3.5%, p < 0.05). Septic complications were detected in three patients, but only in two with bacterial translocation in group I. There was one patient with bacterial translocation who had septic complication in group II. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that obstructive jaundice significantly promotes bacterial translocation in humans, however, its clinical importance has yet to be defined.     

Effect of metoclopramide on portal blood flow in patients with liver cirrhosis, measured by the pulsed Doppler system

The effect of metoclopramide on portal blood flow, the maximal diameter of the portal vein, and some cardiovascular haemodynamic variables was studied in 10 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and portal hypertension. Portal vein haemodynamics were studied by the pulsed Doppler system. Within 15 min of intravenous administration of 20 mg metoclopramide, portal blood velocity and portal blood flow decreased significantly, from 11.2 +/- 1.1 to 10.8 +/- 1.2 cm/sec and from 769.0 +/- 87.7 to 707.9 +/- 84.2 ml/min, respectively (p less than 0.001). Within about 30 min portal blood velocity and portal blood flow returned to basal values (p greater than 0.05). The maximal diameter of the portal vein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate remained unchanged. These results support the hypothesis that metoclopramide, which raises lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and reduces intravariceal blood flow, significantly decreases the portal blood flow in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.     

肝右静脉多普勒波形及门静脉右支血流速度诊断脂肪肝的临床价值

探讨彩色多普勒血流显像(CDFI)门静脉右支血流速度及肝右静脉多普勒波形诊断脂肪肝的临床价值。通过CDFI对2 80例脂肪肝的门静脉右支血流速度测定,观察其肝右静脉多普勒波形,并与4 5例正常肝组进行对比分析。结果发现,脂肪肝组的门静脉右支血流速度比正常明显降低,两组间比较有显著性差异(P <0 .0 5 )。脂肪肝患者的肝右静脉多普勒波形出现三种不同类型,其异常波形共占76 % ;而4 5例健康者肝右静脉多普勒形均为三相波形。脂肪肝组与正常组比较,肝右静脉多普勒频谱异常有显著性差异(P <0 .0 5 )。肝门静脉血流速度变化及肝右静脉多普勒频谱图异常有助于脂肪肝的早期诊断及预后判断。     

Effect of meal on portal hemodynamics in healthy humans and in patients with chronic liver disease

The effect of a standard Italian meal on portal hemodynamics was evaluated in 12 normal subjects, in 11 patients with chronic active hepatitis and in 11 patients with liver cirrhosis using duplex Doppler ultrasound, which allows a noninvasive assessment of portal blood flow. In the fasting state, the portal vein caliber was significantly higher in patients with liver cirrhosis than in normal subjects and patients with chronic active hepatitis, whereas the mean flow velocity in the portal vein was significantly lower in this group. Basal flow volume of the portal vein was greater in patients with liver cirrhosis than in normal subjects and patients with chronic active hepatitis. Sixty minutes after the standard meal, we observed both in normal subjects and in patients with chronic active hepatitis a significant increase of mean caliber, mean velocity and flow volume in the portal vein, whereas in patients with liver cirrhosis, these parameters remained almost unchanged. In addition, the examination of individual patterns showed that flow velocity and flow volume in the portal vein decreased in some cirrhotic patients after the meal. This behavior is probably related to the hypertensive state in the splanchnic venous bed and diversion of splanchnic blood flow into spontaneous portosystemic collaterals.