7 Several studies, including those by Jiao et al., using a rabbit fibrosis model,19 and by Cardoso et al., using isolated perfused cirrhotic rat and human livers,20 have demonstrated that an increase in portal venous blood flow produced by mechanically pumping not only increases portal inflow pressure, but also decreases intrahepatic portal resistance (IHPR)

and dilates sinusoidal spaces in cirrhotic liver, changes that resulted in improving liver function. In liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension is characterized by increased intrahepatic vascular resistance Ponatinib price and elevated splanchnic blood flow. Hepatic stellate cells play a crucial role in regulating sinusoidal vascular tone by their contraction. In turn, such contractility is regulated by a counterbalance between vasoactive agents, such as endothelin-1, and vasorelaxing agents, such as nitric oxide (NO). Recent studies have shown that NO production in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells is decreased in the cirrhotic

liver, leading to increased intrahepatic resistance.21,22 Generally, the increased shear stress induced by blood flow augments NO production in the vascular endothelium and mediates vasodilatation.23 This decreased IHPR Selleck Alvelestat might result from sinusoidal dilatation by NO overproduction following the augmented portal selleck inhibitor blood flow.19 One clinical study in 14 cirrhotic patients who underwent B-RTO showed that hepatic blood flow significantly increased 4 weeks after the procedure and was associated with reduced IHPR.18 B-RTO is likely to enhance portal blood flow, and subsequently to reduce IHPR through shear stress-induced vasodilatation, finally leading to improve liver function. Mechanical portal pumping might be a useful therapeutic modality in cirrhotic portal hypertension, but it would be a difficult procedure to apply in the clinical setting. Therefore, we suggest that B-RTO could be a

procedure potentially to enhance portal blood flow with benefits in intrahepatic hemodynamics that are similar to those elicited by mechanical portal pumping. In the present study, the authors demonstrated that patients with an increase in HVPG ≥ 20% showed a significant improvement of liver function 6 months after B-RTO, whereas those with an increase in HVPG < 20% showed no significant change. Shear stress is determined mainly by three factors: vessel radius, flow rate, and viscosity.23 It is calculated from the flow rate, pressure change, and vessel length. If viscosity and vessel length are considered constant in the intrahepatic portal venous system, shear stress in the portal venous system can be estimated as an index calculated from the changes in portal pressure and portal blood flow.