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Influence of steroids on urea-cycle enzymes in chronic human liver disease

Einfluß von Steroiden auf Harnstoffzyklus-Enzyme bei chronischen menschlichen Lebererkrankungen

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Zusammenfassung

Die Aktivitäten der Enzyme des Harnstoffzyklus wurden in Leberbiopsien von Normalpersonen, von Patienten mit alkoholischer Fettleber-Hepatitis und chronisch-aggressiver Hepatitis bestimmt.

Prednison wurde 5 Tage vor der Biopsie in fallender Dosierung (1,5 mg-0,5 mg/kg/Körpergewicht) verabreicht an Patienten mit alkoholischer Fettleber-Hepatitis und an Lebergesunde. Patienten mit chronisch-aggressiver Hepatitis standen unter einer Steroidtherapie (15–20 mg Prednison/tgl.) für mehrere Monate.

Die Aktivitäten der Harnstoffzyklus-Enzyme wurden bei lebergesunden Personen durch Steroide in der genannten Dosis nicht verändert. Bei Patienten mit alkoholischer Hepatitis waren die meisten Harnstoffzyklus-Enzyme signifikant erniedrigt (P<0,05) im Vergleich zu lebergesunden Kontrollpersonen. Die Gabe von Glucocorticoiden veränderte die Enzymaktivitäten nicht.

Die Aktivitäten der meisten Harnstoffzyklus-Enzyme sind signifikant (p<0,05) erniedrigt bei (unbehandelten) Patienten mit chronisch-aggressiver Hepatitis. Bei einigen dieser Patienten konnte nach Glucocorticoidgabe eine Remission der Erkrankung aufgrund klinischer, biochemischer und histologischer Parameter nachgewiesen werden.

Bei diesen Patienten kam es zu einem signifikanten Anstieg der geschwindigkeitslimitierenden Enzyme des Harnstoffzyklus (ASAS und CPS). Dagegen blieb der Anstieg der Enzymaktivitäten aus bei solchen Patienten, welche trotz Steroidgaben nicht in eine — auch histologisch nachweisbare — Remission kamen.

Summary

Activities of Krebs-Henseleit enzymes were determined in liver biopsies of normal persons and in patients suffering from alcoholic hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis. Prednisone was administered for five days in falling dosis (1.5 mg–0.5 mg/kg/body weight) to patients with alcoholic hepatitis and to controls. Patients with chronic active hepatitis received 15–20 mg prednisone daily for more than three months.

In healthy persons prednisone did not influence the activities of Krebs-Henseleit enzymes.

In patients with alcoholic hepatitis most of the urea-cycle enzymes are significantly decreased (p<0.05) when compared to controls. After glucocorticoid administration enzyme activities remained unchanged.

Activities of most of the urea-cycle enzymes are significantly (p<0.05) decreased in untreated patients with chronic active hepatitis.

In some of these patients, glucocorticoid administration was associated with a remission as proved by clinical, biochemical and histological data.

Activities of the rate-limiting enzymes of the ureacycle (ASAS, CPS) increased significantly in these patients.

By contrast, alterations of enzyme activities could not be observed in patients who failed to respond favourably to steroid treatment.

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Maier, K.P., Talke, H., Heimsoeth, H. et al. Influence of steroids on urea-cycle enzymes in chronic human liver disease. Klin Wochenschr 56, 291–295 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01489175

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