Lipid profile and antibodies against oxidized low density lipoprotein in alcoholic cirrhosis

Mechanisms different from those described about direct toxic effect of etha nol, may be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic cirrhosis. Enhanced l ipid peroxidation and autoimmune events induced by ethanol are postulated a s important additional mechanisms. The objective of this study was, (1) to demonstrate that antibodies against oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LD L) are present in the serum of patients with chronic liver damage particula rly in alcoholic cirrhosis, and (2) to look for associations between these autoantibodies in alcoholic cirrhosis and abnormalities in the lipid profil e. Twenty-six alcoholic cirrhotic patients were studied and classified acco rding to Child's criteria. As a control group 15 healthy volunteers were in cluded. Liver function tests, total cholesterol (TC). triglycerides (TG), t otal lipids (TL), cholesterol bound to LDL (LDL-c) and cholesterol bound to HDL (HDL-c), were measured. ELISA antibody determination against ox-LDL we re performed. Also 26 cirrhotic patients secondary to chronic hepatitis C w ere included and a group of 14 habitual dl-inkers without liver dysfunction . Antibodies against ox-LDL were present in 42% of alcoholic cirrhotic pati ents, compared to 0% of the healthy subjects (P = 0.0001). Statistically si gnificant difference in the antibody titer of Child C compared to Child A a nd B patients was exhibited (6 S.D, above the cut off point; P < 0.05). HDL -c levels decreased in parallel to liver damage in alcoholic cirrhotic pati ents. Comparison between Child A patient HDL-c levels against Child C patie nts, and Child B patient HDL-c levels against Child C patients showed stati stically difference (P = 0.002 and P = 0.02, respectively). Low titer posit ivity (2 S.D. above the cut off point) was found in the group of cirrhotic patients secondary to chronic hepatitis C in 34% of the cases. In habitual drinkers 14% showed positivity to ox-LDL antibodies of 1 S.D. above the cut off point. Antibodies against ox-LDL were present in both group of cirrhot ic patients studied and in habitual drinkers without liver dysfunction, how ever in the group of alcoholic cirrhotic patients a relationship between in creasing titer of ox-LDL antibodies and low HDL-c circulating levels were a ssociated to severe liver damage. This observation supports the enhanced li pid peroxidation as an additional mechanism of injury particularly in advan ces stages of alcoholic cirrhosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. A ll rights reserved.