Møller S, Henriksen JH, Bendtsen F. Extrahepatic complications to cirrhosis and portal hypertension: Haemodynamic and homeostatic aspects. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20(42): 15499-15517 [PMID: 25400435 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15499]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Søren Møller, MD, DMSc, Professor, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine 239, Centre for Functional Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Kettegaarda alle 30, DK.2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. soeren.moeller@regionh.dk
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Topic Highlight
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2014; 20(42): 15499-15517 Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15499
Extrahepatic complications to cirrhosis and portal hypertension: Haemodynamic and homeostatic aspects
Søren Møller, Jens H Henriksen, Flemming Bendtsen
Søren Møller, Jens H Henriksen, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK.2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Flemming Bendtsen, Gastro Unit, Medical Division, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK.2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Author contributions: Møller S primarily wrote the paper; Henriksen JH and Bendtsen F commented and expanded the content.
Supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation and the University of Copenhagen
Correspondence to: Søren Møller, MD, DMSc, Professor, Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine 239, Centre for Functional Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Kettegaarda alle 30, DK.2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. soeren.moeller@regionh.dk
Telephone: +45-38-623568 Fax: +45-38-623750
Received: October 30, 2013 Revised: March 6, 2014 Accepted: June 20, 2014 Published online: November 14, 2014 Processing time: 382 Days and 20.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Patients with cirrhosis develop extrahepatic functional disturbances as a multiple organ failure that involves the heart, lungs, kidneys, the immune systems, and other organ systems. Fibrosis of the liver leads to a systemic vasodilatation that affects both the homeostasis of many organ systems. The circulation becomes hyperdynamic, which is often further aggravated by infections. Changes in organ function involve the heart as a cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, the kidneys such as the hepatorenal syndrome and the lungs with development of a hepatopulmonary syndrome. Liver transplantation is often the only radical treatment and as a bridge to this treatment, knowledge on the mechanisms of the pathophysiology of complications is essential.
