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Hepatic encephalopathy: Lack of changes of γ‐aminobutyric acid content in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid
Author(s) -
Moroni Flavio,
Riggio Oliviero,
Carlà Vincenzo,
Festuccia Vittorio,
Ghinelli Florio,
Marino Ignazio R.,
Merli Manuela,
Natali Laura,
Pedretti Giovanni,
Fiaccadori Franco,
Capocaccia Livio
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840070504
Subject(s) - cerebrospinal fluid , hepatic encephalopathy , aminobutyric acid , encephalopathy , pathogenesis , medicine , pathology , gastroenterology , endocrinology , cirrhosis , receptor
The aim of the study was to verify the role of γ‐aminobutyric acid in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy occurring in cirrhotic patients by attempting to correlate plasma and cerebrospinal fluid content of authentic γ‐aminobutyric acid with the neurological manifestations of hepatic encephalopathy. For this purpose, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid γ‐aminobutyric acid levels were measured by means of mass fragmentography in 17 cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy and in 6 cirrhotics without neurological symtoms. Moreover, in all patients, a second sample was obtained during the clinical course of hepatic encephalopathy. The mean plasma and cerebrospinal fluid γ‐aminobutyric acid levels were not different in patients with or without hepatic encephalopathy and did not change during the evolution of the neurological symptoms. The lack of changes in the γ‐aminobutyric acid content in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid during hepatic encephalopathy is in contrast with the hypothesized importance of increased entry into the brain of γ‐aminobutyric acid in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.