title: Relevance of plasma malondialdehyde level and severity of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal hypertension is one of the death reasons for the liver cirrhosis patients. The oxidative stress is related to the occurrence and development of portal hypertension in cirrhosis. Malondialdehyde (MDA), one of the lipid peroxides, increases substantially in cirrhotic patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relevance between the MDA level and portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 liver cirrhotic patients and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. The plasma MDA level and general blood tests including ALT, AST, ALB, total bilirubin, and platelet were measured. All people enrolled accepted endoscopic examination and B-Ultrasound check to evaluate the severity of portal hypertension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MDA plasma level of cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than the controls (P<0.001) and increased significantly accompanied by the severity of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension (P<0.01). Further, the plasma MDA level of cirrhotic patients was significantly correlated with Child-Pugh classification of cirrhosis (r=0.820, P<0.001), the degree of esophageal varices (r=0.857, P<0.001) and the width of portal vein (r=0.652, P<0.001). The ROC curve analyses showed that the plasma MDA level is a strong predictor of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma MDA level may correlate with the severity of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases Institute, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200065, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Lan
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200120, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases Institute, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200065, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases Institute, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200065, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases Institute, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200065, China.
authors.forename: Heng-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases Institute, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine Shanghai 200065, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: Malondialdehyde (MDA); esophageal varices; liver cirrhosis; portal hypertension