Objective:  Assess the Cardiac Functions in patients with Cirrhosis of Liver and Study the Prevalence of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy in these patients

Methods: A cross sectional observational study was undertaken where 50  patients with cirrhosis of liver were enrolled after excluding any known cardiac illness and known causes of cardiomyopathy.Patients were subjected to  sonographic evaluation  and fibroscan to establish the diagnosis of Cirrhosis of liver. Cardiac assessment was performed non–invasively using electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography. Results were interpreted using Chi–square/ Fisher Exact test. A P<0.05 was considered to be significant.

Results: Among the 50 patients very high prevalence of diastolic dysfunction was found among the study group. A significant correlation was found between Diastolic dysfunction and ascitis . Alcohol consumption was not statistically associated with the cardiac findings. Cardiac abnormalities did not correlate with the severity of liver dysfunction In our present study diastolic dysfunction was calculated by E/A ratio which was present in 26 patients ( 52%). ECG changes of long QTc interval was seen in 34 of patients. Significant statistical correlation between CP score and QTc interval,(p–value 0.0274) was seen in my study. In my study there was significant statistical correlation between CP class and LVEDD ,(p–value 0.0328) and statistical correlation between CP class and LV mass.(p–value 0.0374) and statistical correlation between CP class and E/A ratio ,(p–value 0.0451).

Conclusion: Indian patients with cirrhosis of liver have a high prevalence of diastolic dysfunction. In the absence of any known cardiac causes it should be attributed to cirrhosis itself. Echocardiography can be routinely done in cirrhotic patients to detect cardiac abnormalities. However no correlation could be found between severity of liver dysfunction and cardiac changes.