DOES ENDOTHELIN-1 PLAY A ROLE IN THE RENAL-FUNCTION OF CIRRHOTIC-PATIENTS

Methods. We investigated plasma and urinary endothelin-l levels in ele ven cirrhotic patients and ten healthy control subjects, to evaluate w hether endothelin is involved in renal functional alterations of liver cirrhosis. Results. No significant difference in plasma ET-1 levels w as observed between the two groups (p > 0.05) but urinary ET-1 excreti on was significantly higher in cirrhotics than in controls (p < 0.001) . Creatinine clearance (mean 56 +/- 7.6 ml/min) showed an inverse corr elation with plasma ET-1 levels (p < 0.05) in cirrhotics. Conclusions. We believe this may be caused by enhanced local ET-1 activity linked to an up-regulation of its specific receptors and/or increased renal s ynthesis, resulting in augmented urinary excretion.