Acute changes of superior mesenteric artery pressure after intraarterial bolus injection of prostaglandin-E1.

Background: A bolus injection of prostaglandin-E1 (PGE1) into the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) immediately before SMA-portography can effectively visualize the portal vein. Objective: The purpose of this study was to obtain basic pharmacoangiographical data and evaluate the hemodynamic changes following intra-arterial bolus injection of PGE1. Materials and Methods: Forty-four consecutive patients undergoing transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for liver cancer were retrospectively evaluated. SMA-portography was performed prior to TACE. An intra-arterial bolus injection of PGE1 was performed immediately before SMA-portography. Both SMA pressure and left brachial artery pressure were measured before, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 minutes after SMA-portography. Results: Systolic pressure in the SMA decreased significantly 3 minutes after SMA-portography and remained low for 5 minutes. The maximum reduction rates in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the SMA were 4.8% (4 minutes after SMA-portography) and 6.8% (5 minutes after SMA-portography), respectively. The left brachial artery pressure decreased similarly to the SMA. There were no significant changes in pulse pressure before or after PGE1 injection in either the SMA or brachial arteries. Conclusion: A bolus injection of PGE1 into the SMA was shown to decrease blood pressure in the SMA and brachial arteries, but the pulse pressure remained constant.