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AIMS: To investigate the relation between changes in splanchnic arterial haemodynamics and renal arterial haemodynamics in controls and patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Superior mesenteric artery pulsatility index (SMA-PI) and renal artery pulsatility index (R-PI) were measured using Doppler ultrasonography in 24 controls and 36 patients with cirrhosis. These measurements were repeated 30 minutes after ingestion of a liquid meal or placebo. Sixteen controls and 24 patients received the meal, and eight controls and 12 patients received placebo. RESULTS: In the fasting condition, patients with cirrhosis had a lower SMA-PI (p<0.01) and a greater R-PI (p<0.01) compared with controls. Placebo ingestion had no effect on splanchnic and renal haemodynamics. In contrast, ingestion of the meal caused a notable reduction in SMA-PI (p<0.01, p<0.01) and an increase in R-PI (p<0.01, p<0.01) in controls and patients with cirrhosis. The meal induced haemodynamic change in SMA-PI was inversely correlated with that in R-PI in controls (t=-0.42, p<0.05) and in patients with cirrhosis (t=-0.29, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Results support the hypothesis that renal arterial vasoconstriction seen in patients with cirrhosis is one of the kidney's homoeostatic responses to underfilling of the splanchnic arterial circulation.