transforming-growth-factor-beta and Esophageal-and-Gastric-Varices

Topics: Alleles; Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; Angiography; Antigens, CD; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Diagnosis, Differential; DNA Mutational Analysis; Endoglin; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Genes, Dominant; Haploinsufficiency; Humans; Image Enhancement; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Liver; Prognosis; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Cell Surface; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The aims of this study were to determine 1. the variation of blood TGF beta 1 and ET-1 in patients with liver cirrhosis; 2. the relationship of the blood TGF beta 1 and ET-1 with Child degree of liver function and the severity of esophageal varices.. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 72 patients and 24 normal controls. The blood levels of TGF beta 1 and ET-1 were measured by using a standard bioassay and the radioimmunoassay.. TGF beta 1 level (11.77 +/- 1.32 ng/ml) and ET-1 level (78.37 +/- 17.54 pg/ml) were significantly higher in the patients than those in controls(P < 0.05). The increase of the ET-1 in the patients is closely associated with Child degree of liver function (r = 0.94) and the severity of esophageal varices(r = 0.87). TGF beta 1 concentration is not associated with Child degree of liver function (r = 0.11) and the severity of esophageal varices (r = 0.03).. TGF beta 1 and ET-1 may play an important role in the pathophysiologic process of cirrhosis. ET-1 concentration may reflect portal hypertension development.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers; Endothelin-1; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Female; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Transforming Growth Factor beta1