Modified methods of polygepatography and peripheral arterial tonometry in the assessment of peripheral circulation regulation

Objective. The purpose of the work was to assess the application of modified ways of polyhepatography (PHG) and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) in the evaluation of regulation of peripheral circulation (capillary blood flow).

Design and methods. We included 150 people, divided into four groups. The first group (n = 40) includes patients with stage II hypertension, moderate and high risk of cardiovascular complications. The second group (n = 40) includes patients with stable forms of coronary heart disease in combination with hypertension. The third group (n = 40) includes patients with chronic liver diseases. The fourth group (n = 30) consisted of subjects without anamnestic and objective data of pathology. All subjects underwent a comprehensive clinical and laboratory examination, an assessment of intrahepatic hemodynamics by the PGG method, an assessment of the endothelial function by the PAT method. A modified method of PAT was used to evaluate the central reaction of the peripheral blood flow regulation system (endothelium-independent vasodilation).

Results. Endothelial dysfunction was found in patients with cardiovascular pathology and in patients with chronic liver diseases. A modified method of PAT showed a multidirectional reaction of peripheral blood flow to the test with local ischemia. A number of features were identified in the study groups when assessing disorders of intrahepatic microcirculation. Patients of group I had multidirectional disorders of arteriovenous inflow (45% cases, confidence interval (CI) from 27 % to 63 %) and outflow (37,5 %, CI from 22 % to 56 %) in the liver, while in patients of group II and group III, disorders of arteriovenous inflow were more common, 85 % (CI from 70 % to 95%) and 90% (82 % to 94%), respectively. Rheographic signs of bile passage disorders were more common in groups II  and III. A significant negative relationship was established between endothelial dysfunction and the severity of intrahepatic microcirculation disorders (r = –0,35, p < 0,001).

Conclusions. Modified methods of peripheral arterial tone and PHG enable assessment of local and central mechanisms of blood flow regulation at the microvascular level in patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease and chronic liver diseases. The relationship between impaired endothelial function and intrahepatic microcirculation allows us to consider the liver as a target organ in cardiovascular pathology.

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