Hepatic dysfunction and cardiovascular abnormalities. Occurrence in infants, children, and young adults
S. Mace, G. Borkat and J. Liebman
In infants and children, the effect of heart failure and/or cyanotic heart
disease on the liver has not been well documented, nor has there been any
comparison between the degree of liver dysfunction and hemodynamic factors.
Sixty-five patients with cardiovascular abnormalities were examined.
Hepatic function, as indicated by laboratory data and histologic liver
studies, was compared with the following categories of cardiovascular
dysfunction: hypoxemia, systemic venous congestion, and low cardiac output.
If any one of these factors was present, or any combination, abnormalities
of liver function were usually noted. Patients with both hypoxemia and
systemic venous congestion had marked hepatic dysfunction. Those with low
cardiac output had the most severe abnormalities. Serial studies indicated
that liver function correlated with cardiac status.
