Effect of Plasma-Volume Expansion on Portal Hypertension

THE expansion of blood volume in patients with portal hypertension occasionally precipitates hemorrhage from esophageal varices.1 2 3 4 The increased blood volume is believed to result in distention of the splanchnic venous circulation, thereby increasing portal pressure and producing hemorrhage. Previous studies have demonstrated a relation between plasma-volume expansion and portal-pressuree elevations in patients with ascites and portal hypertension.5 6 It is not known if this reduced capacity for splanchnic-bed expansion is a property of all patients with obstruction to splanchnic blood flow or if it represents a restriction in blood-volume redistribution that is unique to patients forming ascites.This study was undertaken . . .