Injection studies of the splenic vasculature in portal hypertension.

Abstract

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS Increased blood flow through muscle and skin is known to occur in hepatic cirrhosis. Splenic artery and vein injection studies have shown that the increased size of the spleen found in portal hypertension is accompanied by vascular changes suggesting increased blood flow. These changes consist of an increase in the number of venous and arterial channels as compared with the normal. The increase in arterial vessels was greater than venous and the changes were particularly marked in the smaller arteries. Arteriovenous anastomoses were not found, but aneurysms of the splenic artery or its main branches were found in 50% of cases. The relation of these changes to the development of portal hypertension and to vascular changes in other organs is discussed.