Cardiac modifications occurring in the ascitic rat with biliary cirrhosis are nitric oxide related

Background/Aims: Although the cardiac output is increased in liver cirrhosis, some degree of cardiac failure could coexist as suggested by human investigations showing cardiac enlargement in cirrhosis and by animal studies describing a limited response to fluid loading in the cirrhotic rat. Endotoxemia induces similar hemodynamic changes during the septic shock. This septic cardiomyopathy has been attributed to an increased secretion of nitric oxide by the myocytes. In this study, we aimed to verify if cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was present in the rat with biliary cirrhosis, and if it could be related to abnormal nitric oxide secretion.