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Relationship between interleukin‐6 and ammonia in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy due to liver cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Luo Ming,
Li Lei,
Yang ErNa,
Cao WuKui
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2012.01047.x
Subject(s) - hepatic encephalopathy , cirrhosis , gastroenterology , ammonia , medicine , confidence interval , chemistry , biochemistry
Aim: Previous studies have shown significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)‐6 in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), but the relationship between circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between both variables in cirrhotic patients with MHE. Methods: Psychometric tests including number connection test part A (NCT‐A) and digit symbol test (DST) were performed to diagnose MHE in 85 cirrhotic patients. Simultaneously, circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia were measured. Results: Thirty‐two (37.6%) cirrhotic patients were diagnosed with MHE. IL‐6 and ammonia were the independent predictors of the presence of MHE ( P < 0.05 for both variables). Circulating levels of IL‐6 and ammonia correlated with the severity of MHE represented by results of NCT‐A ( r = 0.56, P < 0.05 and r = 0.39, P < 0.05, respectively) and DST ( r = −0.48, P < 0.05 and r = −0.47, P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between circulating levels of IL‐6 and those of ammonia in patients with MHE ( r = 0.61, P < 0.05), and a positive additive interaction was found between IL‐6 and ammonia on the presence of MHE, with a significant synergy index of 1.51 (95% confidence interval = 1.12–3.46). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a significant correlation and a positive additive interaction between IL‐6 and ammonia in cirrhotic patients with MHE, suggesting that IL‐6 may have a potential synergistic relationship with ammonia in the induction of MHE.