EFFECTS OF BLOOD-PLASMA ENDOTHELIN ON CHO LESTASIS AND LIVER PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASES

In chronic liver diseases plasma endothelin is elevated depending upon the severity of the diseases, Significantly increased endothelin valu es were observed in chronic active hepatitis and particularly in liver cirrhoses. Nevertheless, endothelin determinations do not allow to di scern different liver diseases. An elevated plasma endothelin level in duces, aside from increasing cholestasis, a progressive diminution of plasma proteins which are synthesized in the liver. in several plasma proteins this reduction in hepa-tic synthesis reaches levels, which ca n lead to clinical symptoms, this is particularly so in the case of pl asma protein Z. Already in the upper normal range of plasma endothelin concentration pathologic changes in most of the parameters measured a re observed, This indicates a regulation of such parameters by endothe lin even in the physiological range, as for example, in plasma bile ac id concentration.