Objectives: We aimed to figure out the value of colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) to determine the hepatic and renal hemodynamics in cirrhotic patients.

Materials and Methods: 40 cirrhotic patients (11 Child A, 17 Child B and 12 Child C) and a control group of 20 healthy individuals were examined. Renal artery resistive index, renal artery pulsatility index, hepatic artery resistive index, hepatic artery pulsatility index, portal vein velocity, portal vein diameter and hepatic vascular index were assessed in all the individuals. The cirrhotic patients were divided into subgroups according to their Child scores and presence of ascites. The statistical differences between control group, whole and subgroups of cirrhotic patients were evaluated through these parameters.

Results: Statistically, there was a significant difference regarding all the parameters between cirrhotic patients and control group and between Child C group and control group (p<0.05). Also, a highly statistical significance was observed concerning the RA-RI, RA-PI, HA-PI, PV-V and HVI parameters among the studied groups (p<0,001). RA-RI, RA-PI, and HA-PI increased in cirrhosis while PV-V and HVI decreased. PV-V and HVI parameters were remarkably different between the Child groups (p<0.0001). RA-RI, RA-PI, HA-PI and PV-V were also the other parameters which were significantly different (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Colored Doppler ultrasonography is a reliable modality that can be used to figure out the changes occurred in hepatic and renal hemodynamics in the presence of cirrhosis and its progression. ©2007, Firat University, Medical Faculty