In cases of liver cirrhosis, the heart muscle's contractile force under stress decreases, leading to cardiac changes such as thickening of the left ventricle, impaired diastolic and electrical function, and myocardial fibrosis due to its replacement by connective tissue. These cardiac problems, in turn, contribute to the progression of liver cirrhosis and increase associated mortality rates, making early detection of cardiac dysfunction crucial for preventing chronic heart failure and the worsening of liver disease.
Dr. Nadezhda Kulik, co-professor of the study, explained that the relationship between liver cirrhosis and heart disease has recently become a focus of attention for the scientific community, given the high rates of liver cirrhosis and the importance of research in this area.
The study included 20 patients aged 40 to 75 years who received treatment in the gastroenterology department of the Central Clinical Hospital in Greater Novgorod. The patients were classified according to the severity of their fibrosis: 5 patients in category (A) mild, 5 in category (B) moderate, and 10 in category (C) severe.
The results showed that complications were more severe in patients in category C, including hepatic encephalopathy, persistent portal hypertension, ascites, and esophageal varices. Patients in the lower categories experienced two main complications: portal hypertension and hepatic jaundice.
The analysis also revealed left ventricular hypertrophy in 80% of patients in categories C and B, compared to only 40% in category A patients. Blood tests also showed anemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated bilirubin, low blood protein levels, elevated liver enzymes, and prolonged prothrombin time, reflecting the severity of liver disease.
Kulik noted that cardiac dysfunction develops gradually as liver cirrhosis worsens, with normal electrocardiograms rarely present except in the early stages. Patients with cirrhosis appear to be at risk of cardiac dysfunction even with normal blood pressure and other indicators, making cardiovascular monitoring essential, particularly for those in blood types B and C.
