[The role of intestinal microflora in the development of complications of hepatic cirrhosis-associated portal hypertension]

Abstract

Intestinal microflora plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic cirrhosis (HC) complications. These patients are at a high risk of bacterial infections, mainly spontaneous ascitis infection or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pneumonia, or pleural empyema. Other HC complications, such as varicose vein hemorrhage, gastropathy, hepatorenal and hepatopulmonary syndromes, and portopulmonary hypertension, develop mainly due to portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is primarily caused by increased intrahepatic resistance, while after the forming of collateral circulation high portal pressure is maintained by increased splanchnic blood inflow secondary to vasodilatation. Itraorganic vasodilatation initiates hyperdynamic circulatory status, which exacerbates HC complications. Intestinal microflora plays a role in the development of both infectious complications and hyperdynamic circulatory status in HC. The article contains evidence of the influence of intestinal microflora on the development of HC complications.