title: Endothelin 1 and transforming growth factor-β1 correlate with liver function and portal pressure in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The invasive measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient is the recommended method for the assessment of portal hypertension. We assessed if the mediators that regulate portal hypertension may be used as noninvasive markers of portal hypertension and liver insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  We explored in prospective, observational study the concentration of endothelin-1, nitric oxide, and transforming growth factor-β1/2 in peripheral and hepatic venous blood; their relationship with the values of portal hypertension and liver insufficiency; and their level changes 4-6 months after non-selective beta-blocker therapy in cirrhotic patients with non-bleeding esophageal varices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Cirrhotics have significantly increased peripheral endothelin 1 and decreased transforming growth factor-β1 levels; (2) peripheral levels of all factors correlated significantly with their hepatic levels; (3) after therapy, peripheral endothelin-1 levels significantly increased, but transforming growth factor-β2 levels decreased and were lower in patients with pressure gradient value normalization; (4) before and after therapy, peripheral and hepatic endothelin-1, transforming growth factor-β1/2 levels correlated significantly with liver failure indicators (laboratory parameters, Child-Pough and MELD scores) and pressure gradient values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peripheral endothelin-1 and transforming growth factor-β1 levels, which strongly correlate with their hepatic levels, reflect the stage of portal hypertension and liver insufficiency in cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wereszczynka-Siemiatkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: agnkatswidnicka@op.pl.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swidnicka-Siergiejko
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siemiatkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bondyra
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wasielica-Berger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurodegeneration Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mroczko
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janica
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Curie-Sklodowskiej 24a, 15276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabrowski
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000175:diagnosis; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D015415:Biomarkers; D019332:Endothelin-1; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Adrenergic beta-antagonists; Cytokines; Liver cirrhosis; Portal pressure