Plasma amino acids derangement in patients with different stages of hepatosplenomegaly

This study was performed on forty subjects presented in 3 groups, control group [10 healthy males], 10 male patients with non complicated bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly, and the last group included 20 patients with complicated hepatosplenomegaly; 10 patients suffered from ascites and 10 patients suffered from encephalopathy. Plasma amino acid levels were determined for all subjects using amino acids analyzer. Our data revealed, in non complicated hepatosplenomegaly, there was non significant increase in plasma amino acids [P > 0.05] except levels of threonine and aspartic acid, were significantly elevated [P < 0.01], this may be ascribed to excess release from peripheral muscle. Amino acids level in portal hypertensive patients complicated with ascites showed, a significant elevation in histidine, glutamic acid and threonine [P <0.01], and this may be referred to impaired liver utilization besides the excess release from peripheral muscle. On looking for amino acids level in encephalopathy complicated patients, there was significant elevation in Aspartic acid, phenylalanine, tyrosine, glutamic and threonine [P < 0.01] while branched chain amino acids level was significantly [P < 0.01] reduced. This due to impaired hepatic function where aromatic amino acids are catabolized mainly in the liver. The reduction of branched chain amino acids level may be ascribed to increased level of insulin, glycogen or noradrenaline

Plasma amino acids pattern in portal hypertensive patients with different surgical management techniques

Fifty individuals were subjected for determination of plasma amino-acids profile, presented in 3 groups, control group 10 healthy persons, portal hypertensive non complicated group 10 patients, and operative portal hypertension group, included 30 patients where splenectomy were done [10 patient] splenectomy with devascularization [Hassab] was choosen for 10 patients and shunt operation [Warren] was performed for another 10 patients. Heparinized venous blood samples were collected and plasma separated for determination of amino-acids by amino-acid analyzer. Our results revealed non significant variations in amino-acids profile in non complicated portal hypertensive patients, operative with only splenectomy, and Hassab operation groups [P > 0.05], except significant increase [P < 0.01] of aspartic in non operative portal hypertensive and splenectomy groups, than control, and highly significant increase [P < 0.001] of threonine in non operative portal hypertensive and splenectomy with devascularization, this may be due to excess release from peripheral muscle. While amino-acid levels in patients for whom warren's shunt were done showed significant elevation in aspartic, glutamic phenylanine, tyrosine and lysine levels [P < 0.01] and highly significant increase [P < 0.001] in threonine level. This concerning with depriving the liver of portal blood leading to diminish amino-acids metabolism