Objective: To explore the relationship between portal vein hemodynamics and the severity of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis.
Methods: Portal vein blood flow velocity (PBFVe) and volume (PBFVo) along with the serum fibrosis markers were examined in 71 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B, and hepatic pathological changes were routinely observed.
Results: As the hepatitis progressed, the PBFVe decreased in close inverse relation to the degree of liver fibrosis (P<0.01) and the levels of the serum fibrosis markers hyaluronic (HA) and collagen IV (IV-C). The PBFVo, however, was not related with the fibrotic status in the patients, but was reduced as the hepatic inflammatory reaction escalated.
Conclusion: PBFVe is a more sensitive indicator for assessing portal hemodynamics than PBFVo in chronic hepatitis progression, and when combined with serum HA and IV-C levels, it may demonstrate the severity of hepatic fibrosis. PBFVo together with procollagen III level, however, can be meaningful for deciding the intrahepatic inflammation activity.