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Levels of circulating endothelin‐1 and nitrates/nitrites in patients with virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Notas G.,
Xidakis C.,
Valatas V.,
Kouroumalis A.,
Kouroumalis E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2001.00269.x
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , cirrhosis , gastroenterology , medicine , liver disease , endothelin receptor , stage (stratigraphy) , endocrinology , biology , paleontology , receptor
A balance between endothelins (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) might interfere with liver haemodynamics and disease progression in various liver diseases. Increased levels of endothelin 1 (ET‐1) and nitrites and nitrates (NO x , the end products of NO metabolism) have been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the balance has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the ratio of NO x to ET‐1 in patients with virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma and to investigate its correlation with the extent of the disease. Eighteen patients with virus‐related HCC (six Okuda stage I, six Okuda stage II and six Okuda stage III) were included in the study and were compared with 22 patients with viral cirrhosis (14 decompensated, eight compensated) and seven normal controls. ET‐1 was measured with an ELISA assay and NO x with a modification of the Griess reaction. Patients with virus‐related HCC had the highest levels of circulating ET‐1 and NO x (13.24 ± 0.82 pg/ml and 112.28 ± 18.56 μmol/l) compared to compensated cirrhosis (9.47 ± 0.50 pg/ml, P < 0.004 and 54.47 ± 2.36 μmol/l, P < 0.01), decompensated cirrhosis (9.57 ± 0.32 pg/ml, P < 0.001 and 90.20 ± 11.23 μmol/l, NS) and normal controls (8.84 ± 0.61 pg/ml, P < 0.001 and 51.17 ± 6.18 μmol/l, P < 0.01). There was a significant increase of ET‐1 and NO x at HCC stage III compared to HCC stages I and II, cirhotics and controls. HCC stage III patients also had a NO x /ET‐1 ratio that was higher than HCC stages I and II patients, normal controls and patients with compensated cirrhosis. Virus‐related HCC patients have high levels of circulating ET‐1, compared to compensated or decompensated cirrhosis. Highest levels of ET‐1 are produced in Okuda III tumours. NO x are also increased but only in Okuda stage III tumours. The NO x /ET‐1 ratio is increased in virus‐related HCC and DC. This increase may account for the known increase in tumour blood flow.