[Ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas and their significance in patients with liver cirrhosis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas and their significance in patients with liver cirrhosis (PLC).


METHODS
Endoscopic biopsy duodenal mucosa specimens of 60 PLC and 18 healthy volunteers as controls were obtained. Ultrastructural changes of them were studied with transmission electron microscopy. These PLC were divided into groups A, B and C according to the Child-Pugh classification. The ultrastructural changes in the duodenal mucosas of each group were rated and compared with those of the other groups. PLC with and without ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were divided into a positive group and a negative group. Levels of plasma Alb, TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin, and blood ammonia of the PLC were detected and compared.


RESULTS
There were 20 PLC each in groups A, B, and C. Ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in 5 PLC of group A, 9 in group B and 17 in group C. Among the 60 PLC, 52% had some changes in their duodenal mucosas. The changes included decrease and rupture of the microvilli; also karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, widening of the gaps of the tight junction and tumefactions of mitochodrion of duodenal mucosa epithelial cells. No ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas were found in the control group. The rate of changes in the three Child-Pugh class groups and in the control group were 25%, 45%, 85%, 0% respectively (P < 0.01). The level of Alb of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma TBil, PT, endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive group were significantly higher or longer than those of the negative group (P < 0.01). Levels of plasma Alb of the positive and negative groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of TBil, PT, plasma endotoxin and blood ammonia of the positive and negative groups were significantly higher or longer than those of the control group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There were ultrastructural changes of duodenal mucosas in PLC, especially in end-stage PLC. Ultrastructural changes of intestinal mucosas in the PLC may have important pathophysiological and clinical significance.
Shu
Jian-chang
JC
Department of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Affiliated to the Medical College of Ji'nan University, Guangzhou 510220, China.
Li
Qi-yi
QY
Yang
Qi-hong
QH
Zhang
Wen-ru
WR
Li
Ming-en
ME
Zhang
Xiao-yan
XY
Pang
Chun-mei
CM
Lü
Xia
X
Ye
Guo-rong
GR
Pan
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged