[Dynamic variation of endothelin in portal hypertensive patients with hemorrhage and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate variations of plasma endothelin (ET) and its clinical significance in portal hypertensive patients with esophageal variceal hemorrhage.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with portal hypertension were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group I (32 patients) received general therapy and Group II (34 patients) received general therapy and UTI after hemorrhage. The plasma ET concentration and liver function were determined at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, and 14 d after the hemorrhage. Another 20 patients without the hemorrhage were elected as the control group.


RESULTS
At 7 and 14 d after the hemorrhage, the levels of TBIL, ALT and AST were elevated at first and then decreased in Groups I and II. The decrease of TBIL, ALT and AST levels was significantly faster in Group II than in Group I (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) on 14 d after the hemorrhage. At 1 d after the hemorrhage the ET concentration was markedly increased in Group I and II as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Then it was gradually decreased on 10 d after the hemorrhage. The ET concentration in Group II was decreased more rapidly than that in Group I on 2, 4 and 7 d after the hemorrhage (P < 0.05; P < 0.01; P < 0.05, respectively). The ET concentration was positively correlated to TBIL levels in groups I and II (r = 0.734, P < 0.01). And the decreased index of ET concentration was negatively correlated to the increased index of TBIL (r = -0.486, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The increased plasma ET in portal hypertensive patients with hemorrhage may contribute to liver injury. UTI can protect the liver function by inhibiting ALT, AST, TBIL and ET level.
Luo
Hong-wu
HW
Department of General Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China. luohongwuzn@sina.com
Huang
Fei-zhou
FZ
Liu
Xun-yang
XY
Ren
Shu-ping
SP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019332:Endothelin-1; D006023:Glycoproteins; D014361:Trypsin Inhibitors; C028665:urinastatin