title: Increased levels of platelet-activating factor in blood from patients with cirrhosis of the liver.
abstract: The levels of platelet-activating factor (paf-acether) were measured in blood and ascitic fluid from cirrhotic patients and in blood from a group of controls, using a recently described technique for extraction and measurement. In addition, activity of acetylhydrolase, the main catabolic enzyme for paf-acether, was also measured. The highest levels of paf-acether in blood were found in decompensated cirrhotics (1.78 +/- 0.62 ng ml-1; mean +/- SD, n = 8). Compensated cirrhotics showed lower blood values (0.79 +/- 0.21, n = 4), but higher than controls (0.20 +/- 0.04, n = 12). Paf-acether levels in ascitic fluid were similar to those of blood. Values of acetylhydrolase in serum were similar in all the groups studied (3.0 +/- 0.4 in cirrhotics vs. 2.3 +/- 0.4 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein in controls). These data suggest an enhanced production of paf-acether in cirrhotic patients rather than a decreased catabolism. High levels of paf-acether in blood could be involved in the impaired haemodynamics of cirrhotic patients and in their renal function alterations.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000494:pharmacology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D012701:Serotonin; C028207:1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine-acetylhydrolase; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; D010741:Phospholipases A; D010738:Type C Phospholipases