Spontaneous regurgitation of portal blood flow normalized by meal intake in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Hepatol Res. 2003 Feb;25(2):143-148. doi: 10.1016/s1386-6346(02)00206-1.

Abstract

We report a case with spontaneous regurgitation of portal blood flow (SRPBF) that was normalized by meal intake. A 41-year-old man with long-term alcohol abuse was admitted with a chief complaint of general fatigue. He was diagnosed as having alcoholic liver cirrhosis since his laboratory tests showed the abnormal liver function. Dynamic computed tomography detected numerous portosystemic shunts. Hepatic arterial portography showed the portal vein was narrow and irregular. Color Doppler imaging portrayed the direction of the blood flows in the branches of the portal vein to be retrograde. However, 30 min after meal intake on the same day, color Doppler study showed the direction of the blood flow in the first branch of right and left portal vein became normal. Color Doppler imaging is a useful technique to detect SRPBF and hemodynamic change in portal venous system after meal intake in patient under a completely physiologic condition.