Current Concepts of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) connotes systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction in patients with end-stage liver disease in the absence of prior heart disease. Its prevalence is variable across different studies but recent data suggest that CCM may affect up to one third of liver transplant candidates. The etiology of CCM is multifactorial. CCM defining features were recently revised to improve the diagnostic and prognostic yield of CCM criteria and inform candidate selection for liver transplantation. CCM appears to increase the risk for unfavorable outcomes pre- and post-transplant. Close clinical and echocardiographic follow-up of patients with CCM may mitigate adverse cardiac outcomes.

Keywords: Cardiovascular events; Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy; Diastolic dysfunction; Echocardiogram; Heart disease; Heart failure; Liver transplantation; Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.