title: Intestinal permeability in patients with chronic liver diseases: Its relationship with the aetiology and the entity of liver damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alteration in intestinal permeability may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of both the progression of some chronic liver diseases and the onset of some complications in patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between intestinal permeability, portal hypertension, alcohol use, plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and nitric oxide, expressed as s-nitrosothiols, and nitrite levels in patients with various types and degrees of chronic liver diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  134 healthy volunteers and 83 patients with chronic liver damage entered the study. Intestinal permeability was assessed with the lactulose/mannitol test. Plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and nitrite and total s-nitrosothiols were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intestinal permeability was altered in patients with advanced liver disease and impaired in 15-35% of patients without cirrhosis. Independent factors for intestinal permeability alteration were age, portal hypertension, alcohol use, and diabetes. Plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines and nitrosothiols were significantly higher in patients with altered intestinal permeability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An intestinal permeability evaluation in patients with chronic liver diseases might clarify the significance of intestinal permeability in the pathophysiology of both the progression of liver damage, and the occurrence of complications that accompany liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cariello
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sapone
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tuccillo
authors.forename: Valeria Rita
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Scialdone
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiso
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portincasa
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carbonara
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palasciano
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martorelli
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cartenì
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio Blanco
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loguercio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007792:Lactulose; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D009573:Nitrites; D026403:S-Nitrosothiols; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose