Lipoprotein alterations in liver cirrhosis: a possible contribution to changes in plasma oncotic pressure and viscosity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether physicochemical alterations in plasma lipoproteins are associated with changes in plasma oncotic pressure and viscosity in liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
The study included 66 patients with cirrhosis (confirmed by liver biopsy) and 58 healthy volunteers. The constituents measured were: the concentration, density and composition of plasma lipoproteins; plasma oncotic pressure and viscosity; and the concentrations of albumin, total protein, haptoglobin, transferrin, immunoglobulin M and alpha2-macroglobulin.


RESULTS
Step-wise multiple regression analysis indicated that, in the patients with cirrhosis, plasma oncotic pressure was significantly correlated with plasma albumin+viscosity (r=+0.85; p<0.001) and with plasma total protein+the density of low density lipoprotein (r=+0.74; p<0.001). The inclusion of viscosity and the density of low density lipoprotein in the regression equations significantly improved the observed correlation between albumin and plasma oncotic pressure (r=+0.70; p<0.001). Similarly, plasma viscosity was significantly correlated with the sum of plasma total protein and cholesterol (r=+0.68; p<0.001). The inclusion of cholesterol in the regression equation significantly increased the observed correlation between total protein and plasma viscosity (r=+0.59; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that lipoprotein alterations associated with liver cirrhosis may play a role in determining plasma oncotic pressure and viscosity, and thus could influence the progression of the disease.
Matas
C
C
Centre de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Reus, Spain.
Joven
J
J
Vilella
E
E
Clivillé
X
X
Cabré
M
M
Prats
E
E
Camps
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D012044:Regression Analysis
D008074:Lipoproteins