Plasma levels of mevalonate and 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one in chronic liver disease

Background and Aims: Cholesterol levels in blood tend to be preserved despi te hepatic impairment, in contrast to albumin levels and other markers of l iver function in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). We reported previously that the levels of plasma mevalonate (MVA) and 7 alpha-hydroxy-4-cholesten -3-one (7 alpha 3one) closely reflect hepatic synthetic rates of cholestero l and bile acids. The aim of this study was to examine the association betw een hepatic cholesterogenesis and bile acid synthesis in hepatocellular imp airment using these indices. Methods: The plasma indices were measured in patients with LC (n = 38) or c hronic hepatitis (CH; n = 11) and in normal controls (n = 22). The severity of LC was assessed by the Child-Pugh score. Results: There were no significant differences in plasma MVA levels between CTI, LC and control groups. However, plasma 7 alpha 3one levels were signi ficantly lower in LC than in CH and control groups (P < 0.01). While MVA le vels did not correlate with the Child-Pugh score, there was a significant c orrelation between 7 alpha 3one level and Child-Push score (P < 0.005). The plasma 7 alpha 3one level in controls correlated positively with MVA level s (P < 0.01), however, there was no significant correlation between these i ndices in CH and LC. Conclusion: In chronic liver disease, there was a tendency for hepatic chol esterogenesis to be sustained in the face of hepatocellular impairment, whi le bile acid synthesis declined in parallel with the severity of impairment .