Ultrasonic Investigation of Parametric Values of Portal Vein Diameter in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Chronic Diffuse Liver Disease

Introduction: Portal vein in healthy subjects and in patient with chronic diffuse liver disease was investigated by the combination of real-time technique and Doppler impulsive system. Patients and methods: Control group consisted of 99 healthy subjects of median age of 36,8, and with life raging span from 14 to 77 yrs. Experimental group consisted of 55 patients with histologically proved liver disease approximately aged 48,1 yrs. And with life span from 11 to 77 yrs. In 15 patients, portal hypertension was proved, by the measurement of Wedged hepatic venous pressure (WXVP). Results: VP diameter was normally distributed in healthy subjects, variable with E(X) = 11,202 mm and SD = 1, 2534. The mentioned variable was also normally distributed in experimental group with E(X) = 10, 8 mm and SD = 1, 4832. VP diameter in healthy subjects did not statistically significantly differ from that one of the patient with chronic diffuse liver disease, which in contradictory to the generally accepted concepts. According to our results, portal vein diameter should not be taken as a parameter of portal hypertension.