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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2014; 20(42): 15492-15498
Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15492
Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: A cardiologist’s perspective
Natig Gassanov, Evren Caglayan, Nasser Semmo, Gero Massenkeil, Fikret Er
Natig Gassanov, Fikret Er, Department of Internal Medicine I, Klinikum Gütersloh, 33332 Gütersloh, Germany
Evren Caglayan, Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Cologne, 50937 Cologne, Germany
Nasser Semmo, Hepatology, Department of Clinical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Gero Massenkeil, Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Gütersloh, 33332 Gütersloh, Germany
Author contributions: Gassanov N, Caglayan E and Er F drafted and wrote the entire manuscript; Semmo N and Massenkeil G made substantial contributions to conception and design of the pathophysiology and treatment part of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Natig Gassanov, MD, Department of Internal Medicine I, Klinikum Gütersloh, 33332 Gütersloh, Germany. natig.gassanov@klinikum-guetersloh.de
Telephone: +49-5241-8324402 Fax: +49-221-47832712
Received: October 30, 2013
Revised: April 1, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Processing time: 383 Days and 14.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Currently, little is known about the pathogenesis, diagnostic parameters and therapeutic principles of the cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Increased cardiac output due to hyperdynamic circulation seems to be a pathophysiological hallmark of the disease. The main clinical features of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy include attenuated systolic contractility in response to physiologic or pharmacologic strain, diastolic dysfunction, electrical conductance abnormalities and chronotropic incompetence. Here, we review the pathophysiological basis and clinical features of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, and discuss currently available therapeutic options.