title: Changes in adrenal steroidogenesis in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and sterile ascites.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt. azzasaleh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mostafa
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D015850:Interleukin-6; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone