OBJECTIVE: To monitor serum levels of total and free tyryptophan in various hepatic dysregulations. METHOD: The study was conducted on 36 adult patients. All were suffering from acute or chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis (n = 12), cirrhosis (n = 12) and Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) (n = 12). Patients of all age groups and both genders were included. Serum levels of Tyryptophan (TRP) were measured by HPLC-EC. Albumin and bilirubin were analyzed by kit method (Merck). RESULTS: The serum levels of total TRP (p < 0.01) was found in all patients. Free TRP significantly (p < 0.01) increased only in HE. Patients with hepatitis and cirrhosis did not show significant change in serum free TRP. The Albumin levels significantly decreased in hepatitis, cirrhosis and in HE (p < 0.01). All patients exhibited hypoalbuminaemia (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an increased ratio of free to bound TRP enhances its availability to the brain, which in turn increases 5-HT synthesis thus precipitating encephalopathy.
OBJECTIVE: To monitor serum levels of total and free tyryptophan in various hepatic dysregulations. METHOD: The study was conducted on 36 adult patients. All were suffering from acute or chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis (n = 12), cirrhosis (n = 12) and Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE) (n = 12). Patients of all age groups and both genders were included. Serum levels of Tyryptophan (TRP) were measured by HPLC-EC. Albumin and bilirubin were analyzed by kit method (Merck). RESULTS: The serum levels of total TRP (p < 0.01) was found in all patients. Free TRP significantly (p < 0.01) increased only in HE. Patients with hepatitis and cirrhosis did not show significant change in serum free TRP. The Albumin levels significantly decreased in hepatitis, cirrhosis and in HE (p < 0.01). All patients exhibited hypoalbuminaemia (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that an increased ratio of free to bound TRP enhances its availability to the brain, which in turn increases 5-HT synthesis thus precipitating encephalopathy.