[The levels of renin activity, angiotensin converting enzyme and angiotensin II in cirrhotic patients with ascites undergoing portacaval shunt].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the changes of plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II and portal venous pressure (PVP) in cirrhotic patients with ascites undergoing portacaval shunt.


METHODS
Serum PRA, ACE, A II levels in portal vein, artery, peripheral vein and PVP were measured in 16 cirrhotic patients with ascites before and after portacaval shunts and in control group of 16 cases of gastrointestinal carcinoma. By light colorimetric analysis and radio-immunization assay.


RESULTS
PRA, ACE, A II levels and PVP of pre- and after portacaval shunt were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than the control group (P < 0.05), and they were significantly decreased after the shunt in the cirrhotic patients (P < 0.05). The PVP was in positive correlation to the levels of serum ACE in cirrhotic patients (r = 0.48, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of serum PRA, ACE, A II and PVP decreased significantly in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension after portacaval shunts. It may be major causes of ascites disappearance in cirrhotic patients after portacaval shunt.
Zhang
Z
Z
Department of General Surgery, 252nd Hospital, People's Liberation Army, Baoding 071000.
Feng
H
H
Leng
X
X
Ma
F
F
Wang
B
B
Du
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood*; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood*; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D017082:Portal Pressure; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood*
D000804:Angiotensin II; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D012083:Renin