Key result
Alcohol-induced hepatic cirrhosis with ascites can cause secondary left ventricular dysfunction due to pericardial effusion, which resolves upon ascites resolution without intrinsic myocardial dysfunction.
Suggests that apparent left ventricular dysfunction in cirrhotic patients with ascites may be secondary to pericardial effusion rather than intrinsic alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
To the Editor. —Alcohol can induce not only hepatic cirrhosis but also dilated cardiomyopathy. However, it is unusual to find both in the same patient. 1 When a cirrhotic patient develops an enlarged cardiac silhouette on the chest roentgenogram, the differential diagnosis between cardiac enlargement and pericardial effusion often poses a diagnostic challenge. 2 The article by Shah and Variyam 3 in the March 1988 issue of theArchivespointed out another cause of secondary left ventricular dysfunction on the echocardiogram in cirrhotic patients with ascites, namely, pericardial effusion. Since resolution of ascites in their patients was associated with normalization of the left ventricular function, these patients did not have intrinsic myocardial dysfunction. Thus, the old adage that alcohol while attacking the liver spares the heart receives further scientific support.
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Tsung O. Cheng (1988) conducted a letter in Hepatic cirrhosis. Alcohol was evaluated. Alcohol-induced hepatic cirrhosis with ascites can cause secondary left ventricular dysfunction due to pericardial effusion, which resolves upon ascites resolution without intrinsic myocardial dysfunction.
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