title: Elevated levels of circulating angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with hepatoportal sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatoportal sclerosis (HPS) is a clinicopathologic condition that is clinically characterized by portal hypertension (varices and portosystemic collateral vessels), splenomegaly and pancytopenia, in the absence of cirrhosis. Although the etiology is obscure, a number of theories such as immunologic and vascular endothelial cellular abnormalities have been put forward to explain the underlying pathophysiology. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an important molecule of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is also known as a regulatory molecule in systemic and portal circulation in distinct disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of the ACE in the context of RAS in HPS pathogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 30 HPS patients (16 men, 14 women; median age 36 years, range 18-63) and 20 healthy controls. The clinical features of HPS patients including demographics, laboratory, and ultrasonography findings were summarized. Serum ACE levels were measured by using commercially available kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum median ACE levels were 36 (8-174) U/l and 16 (8-43) U/l for the HPS patients and controls, respectively. Serum ACE levels were significantly higher in patients with HPS compared to the control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ACE in the context of RAS may be associated with pathological endothelial occlusive events in the microenvironment of the portal circulation in HPS. Revealing the interactions between circulating and local RAS within the hepatic microenvironment would enlighten the biologic basis and clinical management of liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Turkiye Yuksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital, Sihhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. yavuzbeyaz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Beyazit
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ibis
authors.forename: Tugrul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Purnak
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kekilli
authors.forename: Mevlut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Abdurrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sayilir
authors.forename: Ibrahim Koral
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Onal
authors.forename: Nesrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: Seyfettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köklü
authors.forename: Ibrahim C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Haznedaroglu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood*; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult; D000094724:Idiopathic Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension
chemical_list: D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A