[Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy]

Abstract

Modern studies have shown that hepatic cirrhosis (HC) is accompanied by moderate cardiac dysfunction. The character and degree of these changes do not depend on the etiology of HC and manifest by an increased ventricular wall thickness and diastolic dysfunction, which deteriorate with ascite and physical labor, as well as basal hyperdynamic systolic dysfunction with pathologic response to physical stress. The latter decreases physical tolerance, which contributes to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome and lowered working ability in HC patients. Cardiovascular changes get reversed in 6 to 12 months after hepatic transplantation.