Hyperendothelinemia and ICG clearance in alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis.
Plasma endothelin (ET) levels are generally increased in cirrhosis patients in line with the severity of disease; however, the pathophysiological significance remains to be clarified. We evaluated the plasma ET levels in 49 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and in 53 patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the same disease severity. The plasma ET level was significantly elevated in alcoholic patients (P < 0.0001) and slightly so in nonalcoholic patients (P < 0.01); the difference was significant between the groups (P < 0.0001). The plasma ET level was positively correlated with the Child-Pugh score (P < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with prothrombin index (P < 0.001) and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance (P < 0.0001). The plasma ET level decreased 32% in alcoholic patients after abstinence (P < 0.001), but remained correlated with ICG clearance (P < 0.001) and the Child-Pugh score (P < 0.01), but not with prothrombin index. Regression analysis revealed that the plasma ET level was correlated with estimated hepatic blood flow and alcohol abuse. These findings suggest that hyperendothelinemia in cirrhosis patients is related to alcohol abuse and disease severity, especially to impaired hepatic hemodynamics.
Maruyama
Shigeo
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Saiseikai Gotsu General Hospital, Gotsu-city, Shimane, Japan.
Hirayama
Chisato
C
Yamamoto
Satoru
S
Koda
Masaharu
M
Udagawa
Akihiro
A
Kadowaki
Yoshiro
Y
Inoue
Masayuki
M
Sagayama
Atsushi
A
Umeki
Kensuke
K
D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis; D013695:Temperance
D004396:Coloring Agents; D016232:Endothelins; D011516:Prothrombin; D007208:Indocyanine Green