Presence of plasma endotoxin is correlated with tumour necrosis factor receptor levels and disease activity in alcoholic cirrhosis

Cytokines and plasma endotoxin were measured in a consecutive series of pat ients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC). Endotoxaemia was found to be strongly correlated to increased plasma levels of functionally active tumour necrosi s factor (TNF) receptors -p55 and -p75, TNF-alpha, and the Child-Pugh stage of the disease. Our data support the hypothesis of the pathogenic role of lipopolysaccharide in hepatocellular damage of patients with AC.