Changes in the hepatic artery perfusion during the development of cirrhosis and the effects of an anti-angiogenic multikinase inhibitor

Hepatic arteries (HA) of cirrhotic livers show neoangiogenesis and vasodilatation, the latter mainly as a consequence of increased nitric oxide (Zipprich et al. JHep;49:739). Both mechanisms lead complementary to a greater influence of the HA on sinusoidal pressure in cirrhosis. It remains however unclear, when these pathological changes occur during the development of cirrhosis and if an anti-angiogenic multikinase-inhibitor treatment has an inhibitory effect. Aims of the study: 1) the differences of nitric oxide production in different stages of cirrhosis and 2) the influence of long-time and short-time treatm…