Georgios N Kalambokis1, Athanasia Mouzaki2, Maria Rodi2, Konstantinos Pappas3, Panagiotis Korantzopoulos3, Epameinondas V Tsianos4. 1. First Division of Internal Medicine and Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit, Medical School of Ioannina, University Hospital, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. geodora@mail.gr. 2. Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece. 3. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Ioannina, Greece. 4. First Division of Internal Medicine and Hepato-Gastroenterology Unit, Medical School of Ioannina, University Hospital, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. etsianos@cc.uoi.gr.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Endotoxin and interleukin-6 levels (IL-6) have been involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in non-cirrhotic experimental models and subjects. High circulating levels of both substances have been detected in cirrhosis. The association between circulating endotoxin and IL-6 levels and echocardiographically evaluated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in cirrhotic patients are investigated. METHODS: Thirty-seven cirrhotic patients were studied: 25 with PVR <120 dynes s cm(-5) (group 1) and 12 with PVR >120 dynes s cm(-5) (group 2). Plasma endotoxin and serum IL-6 levels were measured. The PVR and cardiac output (CO) by Doppler ultrasound, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) as the ratio MAP/CO were evaluated. RESULTS: Child-Pugh scores, MAP, CO, and SVR were similar in both groups. Endotoxin levels were correlated significantly with IL-6 levels (r = 0.342; P = 0.03). Endotoxin and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 (2.26 [0.39-8.4] vs. 0.85 [0.37-7.6] EU/mL; P = 0.04 and 37.4 [7.85-106.5] vs. 8.36 [3.15-53.7] pg/mL; P < 0.001, respectively). The PVR was correlated significantly with endotoxin levels in group 2 (r = 0.587; P = 0.04) and with IL-6 levels in group 1 (r = 0.529; P = 0.01) and group 2 (r = 0.760; P = 0.004), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that endotoxin and IL-6 may contribute to cirrhosis-associated PH. In this regard, modulation of these substances could improve pulmonary pressures in cirrhotic patients.
PURPOSE: Endotoxin and interleukin-6 levels (IL-6) have been involved in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in non-cirrhotic experimental models and subjects. High circulating levels of both substances have been detected in cirrhosis. The association between circulating endotoxin and IL-6 levels and echocardiographically evaluated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in cirrhotic patients are investigated. METHODS: Thirty-seven cirrhotic patients were studied: 25 with PVR <120 dynes s cm(-5) (group 1) and 12 with PVR >120 dynes s cm(-5) (group 2). Plasma endotoxin and serum IL-6 levels were measured. The PVR and cardiac output (CO) by Doppler ultrasound, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) as the ratio MAP/CO were evaluated. RESULTS:Child-Pugh scores, MAP, CO, and SVR were similar in both groups. Endotoxin levels were correlated significantly with IL-6 levels (r = 0.342; P = 0.03). Endotoxin and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 (2.26 [0.39-8.4] vs. 0.85 [0.37-7.6] EU/mL; P = 0.04 and 37.4 [7.85-106.5] vs. 8.36 [3.15-53.7] pg/mL; P < 0.001, respectively). The PVR was correlated significantly with endotoxin levels in group 2 (r = 0.587; P = 0.04) and with IL-6 levels in group 1 (r = 0.529; P = 0.01) and group 2 (r = 0.760; P = 0.004), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that endotoxin and IL-6 may contribute to cirrhosis-associated PH. In this regard, modulation of these substances could improve pulmonary pressures in cirrhotic patients.
Authors: F Y Lee; R H Lu; Y T Tsai; H C Lin; M C Hou; C P Li; T M Liao; L F Lin; S S Wang; S D Lee Journal: Scand J Gastroenterol Date: 1996-05 Impact factor: 2.423