Cardiac dysfunction in cirrhosis is not associated with the severity of liver disease

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomiopathy is described as the presence of cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. The aim of the study was to investigate factors associated with cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. Patients and methods: Seventy-four cirrhotic patients and twenty-six controls performed a conventional echocardiography and Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) for systolic and diastolic function. Results were analyzed by using the Guidelines of American Society of Echocardiography. Results: In patients with cirrhosis, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was increased (p<0.001), peak systolic velocities were decreased (11.3 +/- 2.7 vs 13.9 +/- 1.4 cm/s; p<0.001) and left atrial volumes were increased (32.7 +/- 8.3 vs 24 +/- 8.5 ml, p<0.001) as well as cardiac mass (90.6 +/- 23 vs 70.5 +/- 22 g/m(2), p