Study Of The Value Of Hepatic Vein Transit Time For Diagnosis Liver Disease With Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound

Objective TO study the methods measuring hepatic artery arriving time (HAAT) and hepatic vein arriving time (HVAT) by real-time gray scale contrast ultrasonography, and explore the clinical value of the hepatic artery to hepatic vein transit time (HAVTT) for diagnosis liver cirrhosis with contrast enhanced ultrasound.Methods Thirty liver cirrhosis patients (including 12 Child-Pugh A, 8 Child-Pugh B and 10 Child-Pugh C) and 10 healthy volunteers in control group underwent real-time gray scale contrast ultrasonography by vein rapid injection 2.4ml SonoVue. HAAT and HVAT were recorded, and HAVTT was calculated as the difference between HVAT and HAAT. HAAT and HVAT of all patients and 10 healthy volunteers were measured respectively by directly visualization of real time gray scale contrast ultrasonography . HAAT, HVAT and HAVTT of all cases were analyzed after contrast enhanced ultrasound.Results No significant difference was found in HAAT between the liver cirrhosis group and the normal group (P>0.05). HVAT in liver cirrhosis group were significantly earlier than those in healthy group (P<0.001), and HAVTT in liver cirrhosis group were significantly shorter than those in healthy group (P<0.001). In the liver cirrhosis group, HAVTT were different among the Child-Pugh A, B and C (P <0.05 or P<0.01) , and we can see that the trend has gradually decreased. No significant difference was found in HAAT between the Child-Pugh A and B, as well as between A and C (P>0.05). There was no difference in HVAT between the Child-Pugh A and B(P>0.05). Conclusions The results of HAAT and HVAT measured by directly visualization of real time gray scale contrast ultrasonography are useful for liver cirrhosis diagnosis. HAVTT can reflect hepatic homodynamic changes of liver cirrhosis and have clinic value in diagnosis liver cirrhosis.