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The paradox: vasoconstriction and vasodilation

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Portal Hypertension in the 21st Century

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Abstract

One of the most typical characteristics observed in patients with chronic liver diseases is the progressive alteration of the body’s homeostatic mechanisms. Electrolyte imbalances, impaired oxygenation and ventilation, as well as abnormalities in vascular tone, are among some of the altered homeostatic functions observed in these patients1. Nitric oxide (NO), a key molecule that regulates vascular tone, plays a major role in the pathogenesis of the hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome observed in portal hypertension in liver diseases. NO is paradoxically regulated in portal hypertension (Figure 1).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory/111J, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA

    Roberto J. Groszmann

Authors
  1. Yasuko Iwakiri
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  2. Roberto J. Groszmann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    R. J. Groszmann

  2. Hepatic Hemodynamic Laboratory Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain

    J. Bosch

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© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Iwakiri, Y., Groszmann, R.J. (2004). The paradox: vasoconstriction and vasodilation. In: Groszmann, R.J., Bosch, J. (eds) Portal Hypertension in the 21st Century. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1042-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1042-9_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-3774-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-1042-9

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