[Significances of plasma levels of neuropeptide Y pre- and post-treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites].
OBJECTIVE
To observe changes of plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY) level in ascitic patients with decompensated cirrhosis pre- and post-treatment, there fore to understand the correlation of NPY with liver function and ascitic formation.


METHODS
NPY plasma levels in 20 patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites were detected by radioimmunological assay.


RESULTS
Plasma NPY levels in patients with cirrhotic ascites were significantly lower than those in normal subjects(P < 0.01) in spite of the increases of NPY after ascites decreased (P < 0.01), which were still lower than those in normal subjects(P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased plasma NPY levels are correlated with the severity of liver damage and may be responsible for the changes of hemodynamics and ascitic formation in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Li
Gen-wu
GW
Department of Gastroerology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China. ljm1003@21cn.com
Wu
Ling-da
LD
Zhu
Yi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood*
D009478:Neuropeptide Y