Changes in adrenal steroidogenesis in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and sterile ascites.
Adrenal androgens, particularly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), may have important regulatory effects on the immune system in humans. This study measured the changes in adrenal steroidogenesis in 13 non-infected cirrhosis patients with sterile ascites and 13 patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and the relation with circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Comparisons were made with 10 healthy age-matched control subjects. The severity of bacterial peritonitis in liver cirrhosis was significantly associated with enhanced serum IL-6 and cortisol levels, and a decrease in serum DHEA sulfate in relation to serum IL-6 concentrations. Careful, long-term studies on DHEA administered to cirrhosis patients are needed to assess its safety in improving a number of pathological conditions that complicate liver cirrhosis.
Radwan
A S
AS
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt. azzasaleh@hotmail.com
Mostafa
I
I
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001201:Ascites / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004534:Egypt; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone