[Liver perfusion scintigraphy: method, normal values and results of observations on the course of patients with esophageal varices].

In 26 patients, the hepatic perfusion index (HPI) was determined comparing the slopes of the arterial and portovenous part of hepatic perfusion curves. 10 patients without hepatobiliary disease served as normals. HPI was determined twice with a time interval of 6 months. In normals, HPI was significantly (p less than 0,001) higher (mean value: 56%) than in patients with liver cirrhosis (18%). Despite good "intra- and interobserver"-correlation (r = 0.96 and 0.92, respectively) large intraindividual variations make the detection of minor HPI changes impossible. However, the method permits a clear differentiation between normal and moderately to highly reduced portovenous liver blood flow.