title: Role of serotonin in development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the effect of free serotonin concentrations in plasma on development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices.
  
  
  METHODS
  this prospective study included 33 patients with liver cirrhosis and 24 healthy controls. Ultrasonography and measurement of serotonin concentration in plasma were carried out in both groups of subjects. The upper fiber panendoscopy was performed only in patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the mean plasma free serotonin levels were much higher in liver cirrhosis patients than in healthy controls (219.0 ± 24.2 nmol/L vs 65.4 ± 18.7 nmol/L, P < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between serotonin concentration in plasma and the size of the esophageal varices according to Spearman coefficient of correlation (r(s) = -0.217, P > 0.05). However, the correlation of plasma serotonin concentration and gastric fundal varices was highly significant (r(s) = -0.601, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  free serotonin is significant in pathogenesis of portal hypertension especially in development of fundal varices, indicating the clinical value of serotonergic receptor blockers in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Koste Todorovića Street, No 2, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. jelena_rudic@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jelena S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rudić
authors.forename: Dorđe M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Culafić
authors.forename: Duško S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mirković
authors.forename: Rada S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ješić
authors.forename: Miodrag N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Krstić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin