title: [High levels of sterigmatocystin in patients with chronic liver diseases].
abstract: Sterigmatocystin (STC) is a wide spread mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus fungi, with hepatotoxic and carcinogenetic proprieties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the STC concentration in blood and urine from patient with liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with correlation with liver function parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study enrolled 166 patients divided in three groups: control--55 patients (27M, 28F); LC--58 patients (31M, 27F); HCC--53 patients (26M, 27F). 20 ml of blood and 50 ml of urine were collected from each patient and liver enzymes and alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) were measured. STC was determined by high performance liquid chromatography, with concomitant detection in ultraviolet and fluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  STC was detected in 26.2% of samples, more frequently in LC and HCC groups (p < 0.001). STC mean values were 0.014 ng/ml and 0.005 ng/ml in blood, respective urine of controls, rising to 0.626 ng/ml (p = 0.003) respective 1.053 ng/ml (p = 0.049) in LC and 2.02 ng/ml in blood (p < 0.0001) and 9.39 ng/ml in urine (p = 0.003) in patients with HCC. There is a perfect correlation between serum and urinary levels of STC in controls (r = 1), that become weak in patients with LC (r = 0.48) and insignificant in HCC (r = 0.15). AFP values were significantly correlated with STC concentration in patient with HCC, in both blood (r = 0.31) and urine (r = 0.84).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STC values in patients with LC and HCC were significantly higher compared to controls. Strong positive correlation of STC with AFP in patients with liver cancer suggested a possible role of this mycotoxin in pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Facultatea de Medicină, Disciplina de Semiologie Medicală-Gastroenterologie, Universitatea de Medicină si Farmacie "Gr.T. Popa" Iaşi.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huţanaşu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sfarti
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trifan
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cojocariu
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sîngeap
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spac
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stanciu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013241:Sterigmatocystin / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013241:Sterigmatocystin