ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF LEUKOTRIENE-B(4) BY PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR-CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH FULMINANT-HEPATITIS

The production rate of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was measured using periph eral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with fulminant hepatit is (FH) or other liver diseases. LTB4 in the culture media of PBMC und er stimulation with Ca-ionophore was fractionated by HPLC and measured by radioimmunoassay. The production rate of LTB4 was elevated in 16 o f 17 FH patients (3.3 +/- 0.2 ng/10(6) cells for 5 min), while the pro duction was below detectable level in patients with acute or chronic h epatitis and in healthy controls. In FH patients, the highest producti on rate of LTB4 was observed in the initial period of the disease. Enh anced LTB4 production may indicate the primed state of PBMC - the prim ed mononuclear cells are regarded as participating in the development of massive liver necrosis and of other organ failures in FH.