• BRIEF REPORTS • Value of portal hemodynamics and hypersplenism in cirrhosis staging

AIM: To determine the correlation between portal hemodynamics and spleen function among different grades of cirrhosis and verify its significance in cirrhosis staging. METHODS: The portal and splenic vein hemodynamics and spleen size were investigated by ultrasonography in consecutive 38 cirrhotic patients with cirrhosis (Child’s grades A to C) and 20 normal controls. The differences were compared in portal vein diameter and flow velocity between patients with and without ascites and between patients with mild and severe esophageal varices. The correlation between peripheral blood cell counts and Child’s grades was also determined. RESULTS: The portal flow velocity and volume were significantly lower in patients with Child’s C (12.25±1.67 cm/