Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The value of tests for the detection of body iron overload was investigated in 8 patients with clinically manifest primary hemochromatosis, 12 patients with cirrhosis and iron overload and 20 patients with liver disease and low or normal iron stores. Iron overload was defined as the presence of stainable iron in more than 50% of hepatocytes in a liver biopsy specimen. The percentages of patients with a true-positive (abnormal) or true-negative (normal) result were: serum iron concentration 65%, transferin saturation 85%, serum ferritin concentration 78%, serum ferritin:serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) index 78%, percent iron absorption 58%, percent iron absorption in relation to serum ferritin concentration 80% and percent iron absorption in relation to serum ferritin:SGOT index 93%. The calculated predictive value of a normal test result for the exclusion of iron overload in patients with liver disease, a group with an assumed prevalence of iron overload of 10%, was 98% to 99% for transferrin saturation and serum ferritin concentration used alone and 100% for these measures used together; the predictive value of an abnormal result for the diagnosis of iron overload was less than 50% for all of the above measures used alone or in combination. Hence, in patients with an increased serum ferritin concentration or transferrin saturation, or both, determination of the hepatocellular iron content of a specimen from a percutaneous liver biopsy is required for the diagnosis of iron overload.
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PMID:Diagnostic efficacy of tests for the detection of iron overload in chronic liver disease. 67 27

Chronic hepatitis was diagnosed on the basis of biochemical, immunological and morphological criteria in 153 cases. On the evidence of observations for a mean period of four years the prognosis of chronic persistent hepatitis is regarded as favourable, no progression to chronic aggressive hepatitis or to cirrhosis having been observed in any of the cases. On the other hand, chronic aggressive hepatitis was found to progress to cirrhosis in 12 out of 65 cases. Cirrhotic transformation was more frequent in hyperactive processes (8 out of 25 cases). The sera of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma showed low immunoglobulin concentrations, with increased coeruloplasmin and reduced transferrin levels.
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PMID:Chronic hepatitis; prognostic aspects. 103 37

Because of uncertainty as to the molecular weight of transferrin, a previous comparison [Von der Heul et al., Clin. Chim. Acta 38, 347 (1972)] between transferrin content of serum and total iron-binding capacity cannot be definitive. We found a conversion factor for expressing the maximum amount of iron bound by 1 mg of transferrin. We compared the resulting calculated value with values obtained by three other methods for measuring total iron-binding capacity. We agree with the previous observation that the latter, as measured radioisotopically, give higher results than would be judged from the transferrin content but the same as those for two chemical methods. The diffusion rate of transferrin in agar was the same irrespective of the degree of iron saturation. Serum transferrin concentrations were low in patients with anemia resulting from malignancy, chronic disorders, and cirrhosis of the liver, and high or normal in patients with iron deficiency anemia and in pregnant women or women who were taking birth-control pills. Measurement of transferrin concentration can be used to distinguish iron deficiency anemia from anemia resulting from chronic disorders, but offers no advantages over existing methods for estimating total iron-binding capacity.
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PMID:Immunological measurement of transferrin compared with chemical measurement of total iron-binding capacity. 113 10

To study the effects of cirrhosis on serum inhibition of Escherichia coli, cirrhosis with ascites was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intragastric administration of carbon tetrachloride. Heat-inactivated (56 degrees C for 30 minutes) serum from cirrhotic rats (CRS) or that from control rats (NRS) was inoculated with 1 x 10(5) colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml) of E. coli, and growth was measured after 24 hours. The mean growth of E. coli in CRS was significantly higher than growth in NRS: 3.5 +/- 5.4 x 10(8) CFU/ml versus 1.2 +/- 2.0 x 10(6) CFU/ml, respectively (p < 0.01). Fifty-four percent of CRS samples (22/41) completely lacked bacteriostatic activity. These CRS samples were categorized as growth-supporting (G+CRS) because their growth exceeded the mean + 2 SD of NRS (5.2 x 10(6) CFU/ml). Serum bacteriostasis could be restored to G+CRS by adding purified rat apotransferrin (1 mg/ml), suggesting the presence of excess iron in G+CRS. However, serum iron concentration (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) were virtually the same in G+CRS (SI = 120 +/- 22 micrograms/dl; TIBC = 351 +/- 45 micrograms/dl) as in growth-inhibitory CRS (SI = 131 +/- 16 micrograms/dl; TIBC = 347 +/- 46 micrograms/dl) but were significantly less than NRS (SI = 208 +/- 29 micrograms/dl; TIBC = 533 +/- 57 micrograms/dl), p < 0.01. The percent transferrin saturation was similar in all groups: 34% +/- 6%; 38% +/- 5% and 39% +/- 9%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Cirrhosis impairs serum bacteriostasis for Escherichia coli. 140 39

The effects of oral BCAA supplementation on fasting levels of prolactin and estradiol were retrospectively analyzed in frozen plasma samples of patients with cirrhosis and chronic hepatic encephalopathy, taking part in a 3-month randomized, double-blind trial. Twenty-five patients had received 0.24g of BCAA per kg body weight, 24 had received an equinitrogenous amount of casein, in addition to a diet providing 0.7-1.0 g/kg of protein. Thirty-eight were males, 11 post-menopausal women. Fasting prolactin did not show any change in the BCAA group, where mental state significantly improved. In the casein group plasma prolactin increased by nearly 50% during the 3-month period. Similarly, estradiol concentrations were unchanged during BCAA supplementation, and increased during casein treatment. The analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences between the 2 treatments. Liver function tests and nutritional parameters (albumin, transferrin, urinary creatinine) supported a superiority of BCAA over casein. These data suggest that the favorable effects of BCAA on mental state are not mediated by changes in cerebral neurotransmission, but are due mainly to maintained liver function, possibly related to improved nutrition.
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PMID:Oral BCAA supplementation in cirrhosis with chronic encephalopathy: effects on prolactin and estradiol levels. 145 29

Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II, or HEMPAS (hereditary erythroblastic multinuclearity with positive acidified serum lysis test) is a genetic disease caused by membrane disorganization of erythroid cells. The primary defect of this disease lies in the gene encoding enzyme(s) which is responsible for the biosynthesis of Asn-linked oligosaccharides chains of glycoproteins (Fukuda et al, 1990). In order to know whether this gene defect affects the glycosylation in the cells other than the erythroid cells, the carbohydrate structures of the transferrin isolated from the sera of HEMPAS patients were analysed. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of high mannose type and hybrid type oligosaccharides in the HEMPAS transferrin which is in contrast to the complex-type oligosaccharides found in the normal transferrin. The results strongly suggest that biosynthesis of Asn-linked oligosaccharide chains in HEMPAS hepatocytes is disturbed. As a result, the serum glycoproteins with incompletely processed carbohydrates are circulating in the plasma in HEMPAS patients, but they must have been absorbed by the cells in the liver and the reticuloendothelial cells. Upon intravenous infusion into rats, as much as 30% of the HEMPAS transferrin was cleared from the plasma circulation. The majority of the HEMPAS transferrins was taken up by the liver, and transferrin was distributed both in the hepatocytes and the Kupffer cells. The presence of enormous amounts of aberrantly glycosylated serum glycoproteins may lead to the liver cirrhosis and secondary tissue siderosis seen in HEMPAS patients.
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PMID:Incompletely processed N-glycans of serum glycoproteins in congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II (HEMPAS). 148 62

Genetic haemochromatosis is characterised by an inappropriately high rate of iron absorption by the small intestine. The disease is transmitted as an autosomal recessive condition. The gene frequency in the Caucasian population is approximately 1 in 20 and the disease frequency is 1 in 400. Excessive iron deposition occurs in the liver, pancreas, heart, pituitary and joints and hepatic iron concentrations above approximately 400 mumol/g dry weight are always associated with fibrosis and usually with cirrhosis and progressive liver failure. Accurate diagnosis depends upon the demonstration of elevated hepatic iron stores. An hepatic iron index [hepatic iron concentration (in mumol/g dry weight) divided by patient age] of greater than 2.0 distinguishes homozygous subjects from the other conditions in which slight increases in hepatic iron concentration may occur, e.g. in a subject heterozygous for haemochromatosis or alcoholic liver disease. If cirrhosis is present, patients are at a high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Therefore, they should undergo regular abdominal ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein estimation. In the absence of cirrhosis, phlebotomy restores life expectancy to normal. Venesection should be continued until all excess iron stores are removed as judged by failure of a rise in haemoglobin concentration on cessation of phlebotomy. Screening of first degree relatives should commence from a young age (e.g. 10 years). If serum ferritin or transferrin saturation are abnormal, liver biopsy should be undertaken. HLA typing of the family allows for the identification of those siblings who are most likely to develop the disease. Secondary iron overload is often multifactorial in origin. Iron chelation therapy with subcutaneous deferoxamine (desferrioxamine) should only commence after careful consideration of the potential benefits in each individual patient.
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PMID:Current concepts in rational therapy for haemochromatosis. 171 64

Iron is essential for life, but iron overload is toxic and potentially fatal. The liver is a major site of iron storage and is particularly susceptible to injury from iron overload, especially when (as in primary hemochromatosis) the iron accumulates in hepatocytes. Iron can be taken up by the liver in several forms and by several pathways including: (1) receptor-mediated endocytosis of diferric or monoferric transferrin or ferritin, (2) reduction and carrier-facilitated internalization of iron from transferrin without internalization of the protein moiety of transferrin, (3) electrogenic uptake of low molecular weight, non-protein bound forms of iron, and (4) uptake of heme from heme-albumin, heme-hemopexin, or hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. Normally, pathway 2 is probably the major one for uptake of iron by hepatocytes. Iron is stored in the liver in the cores of ferritin shells and as hemosiderin, an insoluble product derived from iron-rich ferritin. Iron in hepatocytes stimulates translation of ferritin mRNA and represses transcription of DNA for transferrin and transferrin receptors. The major pathologic effects of chronic hepatic iron overload are: (1) fibrosis and cirrhosis, (2) porphyria cutanea tarda, and (3) hepatocellular carcinoma. Although precise pathogenetic mechanisms remain unknown, iron probably produces these and other toxic effects by increasing oxidative stress and lysosomal lability. Vigorous efforts at diagnosis and treatment of iron overload are essential since the pathologic effects of iron are totally preventable by early vigorous iron removal and prevention of iron re-accumulation.
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PMID:Iron and the liver. 184 76

Hereditary haemochromatosis is an autosomal recessive disease that is genetically expressed by excessive accumulation of iron in the tissues, resulting in cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy and hypogonadism. As the disease may be diagnosed before the appearance of symptoms, and prevented by repeated phlebotomies, there are strong implications for adoption of a screening procedure. Determinations of transferrin saturation (TS) and serum ferritin concentration (SF) were used to screen 4302 blood donors, who were selected for follow-up studies if they fulfilled any of the following three criteria: (i) TS greater than or equal to 0.7; (ii) TS greater than or equal to 0.5 together with SF greater than or equal to 150 micrograms l-1; (iii) SF greater than or equal to 300 micrograms l-1. A total of 58 subjects who fulfilled at least one of these criteria were reinvestigated, after which 18 individuals still fulfilled at least one criterion. Fifteen subjects having SF greater than or equal to 300 micrograms l-1 were offered liver biopsy and thirteen of these accepted. In one individual, no stainable iron was detected, and two subjects did not fulfil the previously established diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of hereditary haemochromatosis. Ten subjects who had a high TS and liver iron grade 2-4 according to Bassett were classified accordingly as homozygotes. On the basis of these results, the prevalence of haemochromatosis in Denmark was estimated to be 0.0037-0.0046.
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PMID:Screening for haemochromatosis: prevalence among Danish blood donors. 189 49

During the period 1950-1985, a total of 179 cases of clinically overt hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) were registered in Denmark, 140 males and 39 females. Median age at diagnosis was 55 years (range 29-81). Diagnostic approaches, symptoms and physical signs at discovery are described. All patients had grade 3-4 liver haemosiderin iron, and cirrhosis was present in 84%. Serum (S-) transaminase was elevated in 92%, S-alkaline phosphatase in 47% and S-bilirubin in 23%, while plasma prothrombin time was below normal in 34%. Females had higher alkaline phosphatase than males (p less than 0.05). Bone marrow haemosiderin iron (n = 81) showed no relation to iron status indicators and was unsuitable as a diagnostic tool. Skin biopsy (n = 56) was positive for haemosiderin iron in 67% and for melanin in 57%, but was of limited value in the assessment of HH. Arthropathy was registered in 44%; arthralgias and clinical joint abnormalities occurred more frequently in females than in males (p less than 0.05). Latent diabetes mellitus was found in 34% and overt diabetes in 55%, being more frequent in males than in females (p less than 0.05). Other endocrine abnormalities were seen in 66%. Cardiac failure was observed in 9% and abnormal ECG in 35%. Males had higher haemoglobin (p less than 0.0001) and S-iron (p less than 0.01) than females, while S-transferrin, transferrin saturation, S-ferritin and mobilizable iron stores showed no significant sex differences. Median transferrin saturation was 87% (range 52-100); values greater than 62% were observed in 96% of the patients. Median S-ferritin was 3,400 micrograms/l (800-12,700) and median iron stores 14.8 g (4.5-36.4).
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PMID:Hereditary haemochromatosis in Denmark 1950-1985. Clinical, biochemical and histological features in 179 patients and 13 preclinical cases. 191 39


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