[Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: a brief overview].
Even though cardiac disorders were described in alcoholic cirrhosis more than fifty years ago, cirrhotic cardiomyopathy was not defined until the end of the eighties. The term is used to describe all the cardiac structural and functional abnormalities observed in cirrhotic patients without any underlying cardiac disease. This cardiomyopathy is characterized by impaired systolic function, often unmasked during stress, diastolic dysfunction, and electrophysiological abnormalities. It can be detected by the electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography and measurements of cardiac biomarkers (BNP). The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disease are complex: anomalies of adrenergic transduction pathways, alterations of myocyte membrane fluidity, fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, hormonal disturbances, and various ion channels derangements. To date, there is no specific treatment. Liver transplantation may be curative. The possibility of such a condition must be taken into account, when a TIPS or a liver transplantation are considered.