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The Serum Endothelın-1 Level in Steatosıs and NASH, and Its Relatıon wıth Severıty of Lıver Fıbrosıs

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Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to play an important role in hepatic fibrosis. ET-1 is also a mediator that is elevated in conditions such as insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and endothelial cell dysfunction. In this study, we investigated whether ET-1 has a role in determining the severity of liver fibrosis in NASH. Also, the relation between ALT levels, obesity, diabetes, and AST/ALT ratio and fibrosis and ET-1 level was sought. A total of 92 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients were categorized into three groups: group 1, patients with elevated transaminase levels who were diagnosed as NASH by liver biopsy (n=40); group II, patients with only hepatosteatosis determined by biopsy but having elevated transaminase levels (n=12); and group III, patients with hepatosteatosis observed by ultrasonography, having normal transaminase levels (n=40). The serum ET-1 level was measured by an appropriate ELISA kit for all patients. Mean serum ET-1 level was statistically significantly higher in the NASH group compared to the other two groups (15.56±4.63 vs 6.75±2.46 and 5.74±2.34 μmol/L; P < 0.01). Mean serum ET-1 levels in NASH patients with grade I, grade II, and grade IV fibrosis were 14.06±0.92, 17.70±2.32, and 20.40±1.40 μmol/L, respectively. None of the patients were identified as grade III fibrosis. It was found that the serum ET-1 level showed a statistically significant increase as fibrosis severity increased in NASH patients (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the serum ET-1 level is higher in NASH patients compared to patients having only steatosis. There appears to be a correlation between severity of fibrosis and serum ET-1 level in NASH patients. It has been found that NASH patients having a twofold increase in their ALT levels had higher ET-1 levels and a more severe grade of fibrosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Degertekin & Seren Ozenirler

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Gazi University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Sehri Elbeg

  3. Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi Gastroenteroloji, B.D. Kat: 8 Besevler, Ankara, Turkey

    Bulent Degertekin & Gulen Akyol

Authors
  1. Bulent Degertekin
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  2. Seren Ozenirler
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  3. Sehri Elbeg
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  4. Gulen Akyol
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Correspondence to Bulent Degertekin.

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Degertekin, B., Ozenirler, S., Elbeg, S. et al. The Serum Endothelın-1 Level in Steatosıs and NASH, and Its Relatıon wıth Severıty of Lıver Fıbrosıs. Dig Dis Sci 52, 2622–2628 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9147-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9147-8

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