INCREASE OF RESTING LEVELS OF SUPEROXIDE ANION IN THE WHOLE-BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH DECOMPENSATED LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the r esting level of superoxide anion (O-2) and liver cirrhosis (LC), The r esting levels of superoxide anion in the whole blood of healthy contro ls and patients with compensated or decompensated LC were measured, by an ultra-sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) analyzer and lucigenin ampl ification. The assay system can be performed in the absence of leukocy te isolation and stimulant administration. The results showed that the blood CL levels of compensated cirrhotic patients (381.0 +/- 201.5 co unts/10 s, mean +/- SD, n = 24) were similar to that of healthy contro ls (467.9 +/- 299.5 counts/10 s, n = 24). However, the blood CL levels of decompensated cirrhotic patients (2083.5 +/- 1462.4 counts/ 10 s, n = 2 2) were significantly greater than that of healthy controls and patients with compensated LC (both p < .001, Student's t-test). The co rrelation analysis revealed that the blood CL levels in cirrhotic pati ents were significantly correlated with serum concentrations of albumi n (r = -0.65, p <.001) and total bilirubin (r= +0.42, p <.005). Howeve r, there was no significant correlation between the blood CL levels an d serum levels of transaminases (GOT and GPT). These results suggest t hat blood levels of superoxide of decompensated cirrhotic patients wer e greater than those of healthy controls or compensated cirrhotic pati ents. Moreover, the increase of blood levels of superoxide in decompen sated cirrhotic patients is related to the impairment of liver functio n but not to the inflammation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.