The heart/liver ratio (H/L) and portal vein pressure (PVP) in 54 patients of cirrhosis with various liver function were determined by the rectal administration of 99m Tc-MIBI

The H/L ratio in Child A (21 cases)

Child B (15 cases) and Child C (18 cases) group was 0.49±0.18

0.69±16 and 0.91±0.21 respectively

whereas the PVP was 2.22±0.57kPa

2.85±0.38kPa and 3.54±0.65kPa respectively. In normal controls (16 cases)

the H/L ratio and PVP was 0.30±0.12 and 1.61±0.38kPa. There was no significant difference in PVP between Child B and C groups

but has very significant ( P <0.001) and significant ( P <0.05) difference of H/L ratio and PVP in remaining groups after t test. In 16 cirrhotic patients the H/L ratio and PVP was 0.73±0.16 and 3.00±0.55 before treatment

and become 0.47±0.18 and 2.20±0.62kPa after treatment

there was also very significant difference after t-test. It was concluded that this method for the determination of PVP is not only convenient

but also atraumatic and acceptable for the patient. Thereby

it has unique value for the staging

monitoring therapeutic effect

guiding treatment protocol and jndging the prognosis etc. in cirrhotic patients.