APPARENT LIVER BLOOD-FLOW DURING PREGNANCY - A SERIAL STUDY USING INDOCYANINE GREEN CLEARANCE

Summary. Serial measurements of apparent liver blood flow and cardiac output were performed in 12 women at 12–14, 24–26 and 36–38 weeks of pregnancy and then at 10–12 weeks after delivery. Apparent liver blood flow was calculated from indocyanine green clearance. Cardiac output was measured by Doppler and cross‐sectional echocardiography at the aortic valve. Postnatal apparent liver blood flow was 1.811/min and no significant change was demonstrated during pregnancy. In contrast cardiac output decreased from 7.461/min at 36–38 weeks gestation to 4.901/min after delivery. Apparent liver blood flow accounted for 24% of cardiac output during pregnancy. This increased to 37% after delivery. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved