Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: Isn’t stress evaluation always required for the diagnosis?

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of cirrhotic patients

	n = 26 patients
Gender (male), n (%)	22 (84.6)
Age (yr)	54.6 ± 10.4
Cirrhosis etiology
Alcoholic, n (%)	20 (77.0)
Viral, n (%)	3 (11.5)
Mixed, n (%)	3 (11.5)
Child-Pugh score (units)	6.2 ± 1.3
Child-Pugh class
A, n (%)	17 (65.4)
B, n (%)	8 (30.8)
C, n (%)	1 (3.8)
MELD score (units)	8.7 ± 5.3
Medical therapy
Propranolol, n (%)	15 (57.7)
Diuretics, n (%)	12 (46.1)
Ascites, n (%)	5 (19.2)
Mild/moderate (diuretic responsive) ascites, n (%)	3 (11.5)
Severe (diuretic refractory) ascites, n (%)	2 (7.7)
Gastroesophageal varices, n (%)	22 (84.6)
Decompensation by ascites, n (%)	12 (46.1)
Decompensation by variceal bleeding, n (%)	12 (46.2)
Decompensation by overt encephalopathy, n (%)	3 (11.5)
≥ 2 Decompensations by ascites, n (%)	5 (19.2)
≥ 2 Decompensations by variceal bleeding, n (%)	4 (15.4)
≥ 2 Decompensations by overt encephalopathy, n (%)	2 (7.7)
Heart rate (bpm)	67.8 ± 13.0
Systolic pressure (mmHg)	115.7 ± 11.6
Diastolic pressure (mmHg)	62.1 ± 21.6
Sodium (mEq/L)	140.6 ± 2.7
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.9 ± 0.2
Albumin (g/dL)	3.6 ± 0.4

MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease.

Table 2 The characteristics of patients with and without cirrhotic cardiomyopathy

	CCM (n = 16)	Non-CCM (n = 10)	P value
Gender (male), n (%)	14 (87.5%)	8 (80.0%)	0.625
Age (yr)	52.8 ± 9.9	57.4 ± 11.2	0.284
Etiology (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), n (%)	14 (87.5)/2 (12.5)	9 (90.0)/1 (10.0)	0.677
Child-Pugh score (units)	6.3 ± 1.3	6.1 ± 1.2	0.775
Child-Pugh class (A/B + C), n (%)	9 (56.2)/7 (43.8)	8 (80.0)/2 (20.0)	0.399
MELD score (units)	8.1 ± 5.8	9.5 ± 4.6	0.532
Ascites, n (%)	4 (25.0)	1 (10.0)	0.617
Gastroesophageal varices, n (%)	14 (87.5)	8 (80.0)	0.625
History of overt encephalopathy, n (%)	1 (6.3)	2 (20.0)	0.538
Sodium (mEq/L)	140.7 ± 2.9	140.5 ± 2.3	0.865
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.8 ± 0.2	0.9 ± 0.1	0.343
Albumin (g/dL)	3.6 ± 0.3	3.5 ± 0.4	0.446

CCM: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy; MELD: Model for end-stage liver disease.