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Plasma endothelin-1 levels in liver cirrhosis

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International Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Research

Abstract

The role of circulating endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstricting peptide, in liver cirrhosis is still controversial. It has been postulated that endothelin-1 may play a role in the circulatory derangement occurring in cirrhotic subjects, and increased plasma endothelin-1 levels have been reported in these patients. In this study we looked for a relationship between the severity of the liver disease according to Child’s classification and plasma endothelin-1 concentrations in a group of cirrhotic patients compared with a healthy control group. Twenty-two cirrhotic patients and 10 healthy controls, matched for sex and age, were selected for study after informed consent. The etiology of cirrhosis was posthepatitis B in 8 of 22 cases, posthepatitis C in 13 of 22 cases, and alcoholism in 1 patient. According to Child’s classification, 6 patients were in class A, 6 in class B, and 10 in class C. Plasma endothelin-1 was measured by a commercial RIA kit (Amersham UK). Mean±SD plasma endothelin-1 levels were 8.8±0.9 pg/ml in controls and 9.2±1.1 pg/ml in all cirrhotic patients (P>0.05). In each subgroup of cirrhotics, plasma endothelin-1 was 8.6±1.2 pg/ml in Child A, 8.9±1.9 pg/ml in Child B, and 10.6±1.5 pg/ml in Child C groups, respectively. There were no statistical differences between control subjects and Child A and B cirrhotic patients (P>0.05). A significant increase in endothelinl was observed only in the Child C group versus either group A or B (P=0.004). Our results show that alterations of circulating endothelin-1 do not occur in all cirrhotic patients; higher plasma levels than controls are only detectable in patients with more-severe hepatic failure. We do not know whether increased endothelin-1 levels are a consequence of hemodynamic disorders occurring in the advanced phase of liver cirrhosis or play a pathogenic role.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    C. M. Bruno, S. Neri, C. Sciacca & L. Caruso

  2. Istituto di Medicina Interna e Medicina d’Urgenza, Ospedale S. Marta, Via G. Clementi 36, 95124, Catania, Italy

    C. M. Bruno

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  1. C. M. Bruno
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  2. S. Neri
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  3. C. Sciacca
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  4. L. Caruso
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Bruno, C.M., Neri, S., Sciacca, C. et al. Plasma endothelin-1 levels in liver cirrhosis. Int J Clin Lab Res 30, 169–172 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070002

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005990070002

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