Effect of somatostatin on splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

The effect of somatostatin on splanchnic hemodynamics in patients with liver cirrhosis is not clearly defined, as some authors report a decrease in portal pressure and in liver blood flow during intravenous administration of this hormone, while others do not. In 19 subjects with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension the following parameters were measured before and during intravenous administration of somatostatin (7.5 micrograms/min): porto-hepatic gradient, estimated hepatic blood flow, specific splenic blood flow, cardiac index. Estimated hepatic blood flow decreased significantly during somatostatin infusion (p less than 0.05), averaging a 13% decrease; porto-hepatic gradient, splenic specific blood flow and cardiac index did not vary significantly. These data indicate that somatostatin infused at a dose of 7.5 micrograms/min induces a slight decrease in liver blood flow without affecting portal hypertension.