To evaluate of the cardiovascular injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion of the liver by measuring changes in blood levels of cardiac troponin I (cTNI), an index of cardiovascular injury, as well as the levels of selected indicators of an inflammatory response. Ischemia was induced in rat liver by clamping off the common hepatic artery and portal vein for 40 min, after which flow was restored, and the liver was reperfused for 90 min. Blood samples were collected prior to ischemia and after reperfusion, and white cell counts as well as levels of cTNI, tumor necrotic factor (TNF), malondialdehyde (MDA) hydroxyl radical and nitric oxide were measured. Also measured were blood levels of SGOT, SGPT and LDH, which served as indexes of liver injury. Mean arterial blood pressure was monitored throughout the experiment. Ischemia/reperfusion of the liver induced 4- to 5-fold increases in SGOT, SGPT and LDH (p<0.001). Increased cTNI levels (p<0.01), indicative of cardiovascular injury, were associated with the such inflammatory responses as elevated white cell counts (p < 0.05) and elevated levels of TNF (p<0.05), MDA (p<0.05), methyl guanidine - a hydroxyl radical reaction product (p<0.01) - and nitric oxide (p<0.05). Ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver injury is associated with cardiovascular injury, perhaps resulting from inflammatory responses triggered by elevated levels of such reactive oxygen species as nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite.