title: Serum and ascitic fluid serotonin levels and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid urine excretion in the liver of cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The excess and deficit of serotonin can be the cause of somatic and mental disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate serotonin levels in blood and ascitic fluid as well as excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in urine in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 75 alcoholic cirrhotic patients divided into 3 groups (HE1, HE2, HE3), 25 patients each, with grade 1, 2 and 3 of hepatic encephalopathy according to West-Haven classification. The control group (C) included 25 clinically healthy volunteers. Venous blood and ascitic fluid were collected in fasting. On the same day a 24-hour urine collection was performed. Immunoenzymatic method was used to determine the serotonin level in serum and ascitic fluid, and 5-HIAA in urine (IBL-RE-59121, RE-59131).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the control group, mean serum serotonin level (ng/ml) was 155.5 ± 38.1 and in the 3 study groups: HE1 - 175.2 ± 32.4 (NS), HE2 - 137.2 ± 28.6 (NS), HE3 - 108.3 ± 46.3 (p<0.001). Serotonin concentration in ascitic fluid was on the average about 25% of its level in serum. The excretion of 5-HIAA in urine (mg/24h) in all groups, was: C - 5.9 ± 2.1, HE1 - 5.8 ± 1.8 (NS), HE2 - 4.8 ± 1.2(NS), HE3 - 4.3 ± 1.3 (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that serum and ascitic fluid level of serotonin and urine excretion of 5-HIAA depends on the grade of hepatic encephalopathy. In patients with severe hepatic encephalopathy serotonin concentration in blood is decreased which can affect some clinical manifestation of this disease.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chojnacki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Walecka-Kapica
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlowicz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wachowska-Kelly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chojnacki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001201:Ascites / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid