title: Relationship between angiotensin-(1-7) and angiotensin II correlates with hemodynamic changes in human liver cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure circulating angiotensins at different stages of human cirrhosis and to further evaluate a possible relationship between renin angiotensin system (RAS) components and hemodynamic changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were allocated into 4 groups: mild-to-moderate liver disease (MLD), advanced liver disease (ALD), patients undergoing liver transplantation, and healthy controls. Blood was collected to determine plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin (Ang) I, Ang II, and Ang-(1-7) levels using radioimmunoassays. During liver transplantation, hemodynamic parameters were determined and blood was simultaneously obtained from the portal vein and radial artery in order to measure RAS components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PRA and angiotensins were elevated in ALD when compared to MLD and controls (P < 0.05). In contrast, Ang II was significantly reduced in MLD. Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratios were increased in MLD when compared to controls and ALD. During transplantation, Ang II levels were lower and Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratios were higher in the splanchnic circulation than in the peripheral circulation (0.52 +/- 0.08 vs 0.38 +/- 0.04, P < 0.02), whereas the peripheral circulating Ang II/Ang I ratio was elevated in comparison to splanchnic levels (0.18 +/- 0.02 vs 0.13 +/- 0.02, P < 0.04). Ang-(1-7)/Ang II ratios positively correlated with cardiac output (r = 0.66) and negatively correlated with systemic vascular resistance (r = -0.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the relationship between Ang-(1-7) and Ang II may play a role in the hemodynamic changes of human cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Hypertension, Biological Sciences institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walkíria Wingester
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
authors.forename: Antônio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-Oliveira
authors.forename: Regina Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Renata da Cunha
authors.initials: Rda C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Jerusa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Nadu
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Simões e Silva
authors.forename: Robson Augusto Souza
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000097:blood*; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000803:Angiotensin I; C118790:angiotensin I (1-7)