Regional and systemic hemodynamic disturbances in cirrhosis.

In cirrhosis of the liver there is an imbalance between factors mediating vasodilatation such as nitric oxide and factors mediating vasoconstriction such as endothelins. These imbalances result in portal hypertension, hepatorenal syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, hepatopulmonary syndrome, as well as alterations in cerebral blood flow.