HEMODYNAMIC EVALUATION OF MOLSIDOMINE - A VASODILATOR WITH ANTIANGINAL PROPERTIES IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS

Organic nitrates were reported to reduce portohepatic venous pressure gradient in patients with cirrhosis. However, these drugs lower arterial pressure and are well known to induce tolerace. The aim of the present study was to assess the hemodynamic effects of molsidomine, an antianginal agent, which does not induce tolerance and has little effect on arterial pressure in patients with normal liver, in 13 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Wedged hepatic vein pressure (−11%, p < 0.01), portohepatic venous pressure gradient (−15%, p < 0.005), hepatic blood flow (−17.4%, p < 0.005), mean arterial pressure (−13.5%, p < 0.01) and cardiac output (−17%, p < 0.001) were significantly reduced by molsidomine. Free hepatic vein pressure, intrinsic hepatic clearance indocyanin green, heart rate and systemic vascular resistances were not significantly modified. There was no correlation between the decrease in portohepatic venous pressure gradient and the reduction in mean arterial pressure on one hand and the decrease in cardiac output on the other hand. We therefore conclude that in patients with cirrhosis, molsidomine has effects similar to nitrates on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics. Copyright © 1990 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases