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ISSN 2522-9028 (Print)
ISSN 2522-9036 (Online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz

Fiziologichnyi Zhurnal

(English title: Physiological Journal)

is a scientific journal issued by the

Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology
National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Editor-in-chief: V.F. Sagach

The journal was founded in 1955 as
1955 – 1977 "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 0015 – 3311)
1978 – 1993 "Fiziologicheskii zhurnal" (ISSN 0201 – 8489)
1994 – 2016 "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 0201 – 8489)
2017 – "Fiziolohichnyi zhurnal" (ISSN 2522-9028)

Fiziol. Zh. 2026; 72(2): 13-19


Assessment of splenic vascular hemodynamics in patients with established portal hypertension and splenomegaly

I.V. Kolosovych1, S.M. Kozlov1, R.O. Mnevets2, Y.S. Nazarov1

  1. Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
  2. Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/fz72.02.013


Abstract

The development of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis is accompanied by fundamental changes in splanchnic circulation, where the role of the spleen transforms from a passive venous reservoir into an active driver of hemodynamic disturbances. In the present study, based on a comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination of 90 individuals, including 47 patients with liver cirrhosis and established sple- nomegaly (study group) and 43 practically healthy volunteers (control group), Doppler ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a pronounced hyperdynamic syndrome in the splenic artery basin. Flowmetry results demonstrate a statistically significant increase in linear blood flow velocities in patients with pathology: Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV) reached 150.8 ± 43.6 cm/s, which is 1.8 times higher than in the control group (85.4 ± 26.7 cm/s), and End-Diastolic Velocity (EDV) nearly doubled to 59.9 ± 19.9 cm/s vs 32.3 ± 10.2 cm/s in healthy individuals. Paradoxically, against the background of a multiple increase in volumetric blood flow, the calculated Resistive Index (RI) in the study group remained stable and did not differ from normal values (0.61 ± 0.08 vs 0.60 ± 0.10), indicating profound vascular wall remodeling and the capacity of the vascular bed to accommodate excessive blood volumes without increasing peripheral resistance. As a consequence of arterial hyperperfusion, a significant increase in maximum velocity in the splenic vein was recorded (34.1 ± 15.6 cm/s vs 23.5 ± 6.2 cm/s in controls). The established strong Spearman correlation between the morphometric volume of the spleen and the velocity of arterial inflow (ρ = 0.616; P < 0.001) confirms the formation of a sustained hyperdynamic type of circulation as a potential mecha nism for the development and progression of splenomegaly, and indicates the unconditional predominance of the active splenic component in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension.

Keywords: portal hypertension; splenomegaly; Doppler ultrasonography; splenic artery; hemodynamics; liver cirrhosis

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© National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology, 2014-2026.