OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to analyze splenic impedance indices - resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) - in patients with chronic liver disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with hepatic cirrhosis and 21 patients with chronic hepatitis were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: In patients with cirrhosis, both indices were higher (RI = 0.63 ± 0.08; PI = 1.02 ± 0.22) than those found in patients with chronic hepatitis (RI = 0.58 ± 0.06; PI = 0.89 ± 0.15) and in the control group individuals (RI = 0.57 ± 0.04; PI = 0.87 ± 0.11). However, cirrhotic patients with evidence of collateral circulation at ultrasound presented lower resistive indices (RI = 0.60 ± 0.08) compared with those without collateral circulation (RI = 0.65 ± 0.07), possibly due to the portosystemic shunt caused by collateral vessels. There was no significant difference of indices between patients with and without esophageal varices. CONCLUSION: The present study has demonstrated that splenic artery impedance indices may be useful in the evaluation of patients affected by chronic liver disease and portal hypertension, contributing with additional data at color Doppler ultrasound.
Impedance indices; Splenic artery; Portal hypertension; Radiology
