PurposeB-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is widely used in clinical practice as a sensitive and specific biomarker for left ventricular dysfunction. In recent years, many studies demonstrate that patients with liver cirrhosis develop a cirrhosis-related cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis using the BNP measurement and its correlation to the LV systolic and diastolic function.Material & MethodsA total number of 32 patients with liver cirrhosis in Child-Pugh stage IV, including 9 women (28%) and 23 men (72%), with an average age of 57.7+/-12.8 years, were screened in our clinic for BNP values and subsequently referred for the evaluation of systolic and diastolic LV function to our echocardiography laboratory.ResultsIn 27 (84%) of all patients, a diastolic LV dysfunction was demonstrated. In ten (31%) patients, we could find a diminished left ventricular ejection fraction, indicating an LV systolic dysfunction. In 14 (44%) patients, elevated BNP values (>300pg/ml) could be determined. There was a strong correlation between the LVEF and the BNP values in all the patientsConclusionOur study shows that cardiac involvement in end-stage liver cirrhosis is a rather common finding. Most of the patients develop a diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, but overt LV systolic dysfunction is also noted in many of the patients with liver cirrhosis. PurposeB-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is widely used in clinical practice as a sensitive and specific biomarker for left ventricular dysfunction. In recent years, many studies demonstrate that patients with liver cirrhosis develop a cirrhosis-related cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis using the BNP measurement and its correlation to the LV systolic and diastolic function. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is widely used in clinical practice as a sensitive and specific biomarker for left ventricular dysfunction. In recent years, many studies demonstrate that patients with liver cirrhosis develop a cirrhosis-related cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of cardiac dysfunction in patients with liver cirrhosis using the BNP measurement and its correlation to the LV systolic and diastolic function. Material & MethodsA total number of 32 patients with liver cirrhosis in Child-Pugh stage IV, including 9 women (28%) and 23 men (72%), with an average age of 57.7+/-12.8 years, were screened in our clinic for BNP values and subsequently referred for the evaluation of systolic and diastolic LV function to our echocardiography laboratory. A total number of 32 patients with liver cirrhosis in Child-Pugh stage IV, including 9 women (28%) and 23 men (72%), with an average age of 57.7+/-12.8 years, were screened in our clinic for BNP values and subsequently referred for the evaluation of systolic and diastolic LV function to our echocardiography laboratory. ResultsIn 27 (84%) of all patients, a diastolic LV dysfunction was demonstrated. In ten (31%) patients, we could find a diminished left ventricular ejection fraction, indicating an LV systolic dysfunction. In 14 (44%) patients, elevated BNP values (>300pg/ml) could be determined. There was a strong correlation between the LVEF and the BNP values in all the patients In 27 (84%) of all patients, a diastolic LV dysfunction was demonstrated. In ten (31%) patients, we could find a diminished left ventricular ejection fraction, indicating an LV systolic dysfunction. In 14 (44%) patients, elevated BNP values (>300pg/ml) could be determined. There was a strong correlation between the LVEF and the BNP values in all the patients ConclusionOur study shows that cardiac involvement in end-stage liver cirrhosis is a rather common finding. Most of the patients develop a diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, but overt LV systolic dysfunction is also noted in many of the patients with liver cirrhosis. Our study shows that cardiac involvement in end-stage liver cirrhosis is a rather common finding. Most of the patients develop a diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, but overt LV systolic dysfunction is also noted in many of the patients with liver cirrhosis.