Neutrophil activation in chronic liver disease

Stanley, A. J. , McGregor, I. R., Dillon, J. F., Bouchier, I. A.D. and Hayes, P. C. (1996) Neutrophil activation in chronic liver disease. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 8(2), pp. 135-138. (doi: 10.1097/00042737-199602000-00008) (PMID:8723417)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the relationship between neutrophil activation and indices of disease severity in patients with chronic liver disease. Methods: Plasma neutrophil elastase was measured by radioimmunoassay as a marker of neutrophil activation, and disease severity assessed by standard clinical, biochemical, haematological and histological techniques. Patients: Eighty-eight patients with chronic liver disease were studied, Thirty-nine had alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD), 18 autoimmune chronic hepatitis, 13 cryptogenic cirrhosis, seven primary biliary cirrhosis, six primary sclerosing cholangitis, three haemochromatosis and two secondary biliary cirrhosis. Seventy-three patients were cirrhotic and 15 were non-cirrhotic, confirmed by biopsy. Results: Levels of neutrophil elastase were raised in Childs C cirrhotic patients with ALD compared with Childs A or B patients with ALD (P < 0.01), Childs A or B patients with non-ALD (P < 0.01), and Childs C patients with non-ALD (P = 0.02). In patients with ALD, neutrophil elastase correlated with prothrombin time (r = 0.679, P = 0.001), bilirubin (r = 0.587, P < 0.001), Child-Pugh score (r = 0.546, P < 0.001) and inversely with serum albumin (r = -0.511, P < 0.001). In patients with non-ALD, there were no correlations with the measurements of with transaminase levels. Conclusion: Neutrophil activation, as measured by plasma neutrophil elastase, is a marker of disease severity in patients with alcohol-induced chronic liver damage, but not in those with other causes of liver disease.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Stanley, Dr Adrian
• Authors: Stanley, A. J., McGregor, I. R., Dillon, J. F., Bouchier, I. A.D., and Hayes, P. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Publisher: Rapid Science Publishers
• ISSN: 0954-691X
• ISSN (Online): 1473-5687