Plasma endothelin-1 levels in patients with cirrhosis and their relationship to the severity of cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

This study focused on the possible role of endothelin-1 [ET-1] in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension and also its relation with the degree of liver affection. The plasma levels of ET-1 were measured in 10 healthy control subjects and 80 patients with cirrhosis and they were correlated with various clinical and laboratory parameters. There was a significant elevation of ET-1 in all patients with cirrhosis compared with the control group [14.59 +/- 3.57 pg/ml vs. 4.2 +/- 0.34 pg/ml, respectively]. The highest level of ET-1 was obtained in the group of cirrhotic patients with ascites. Plasma ET-1 levels were significantly elevated in cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varices [12.21 +/- 0.45 pg/ml] compared with those without [10.03 +/- 0.37 pg/ml]. Plasma ET-1 level was positively correlated with total and direct bilirubin, ALT, AST, PT and serum creatinine. The plasma level of ET-1 was negatively correlated with albumin and PC. It was concluded that plasma ET-1 is elevated in liver cirrhosis in a disease stage-dependent manner, which may have diagnostic and prognostic values and may be used as a marker for the progression of the disease