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

Blood levels of estradiol, testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), sex steroid binding globulin (SSBG), and free steroids were surveyed in 117 men to define the pattern of hormonal abnormalities and to examine the relationships between the hormone levels and the development of the endocrine features of cirrhosis. When compared with healthy men of similar ages, the patients had significantly lower metabolic clearance rates (p .001), testosterone production rates (p .001), total and free levels of testosterone (p .001), reduced testosterone responses to human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) stimulation, higher estradiol, LH, and FSH levels, and higher binding capacities of SSBG. The metabolic clearance and plasma production rates of estradiol were not markedly different from those of controls. Severely ill patients with liver failure of hemochromatosis had low levels of LH and FSH respones to clomiphene and LH-releasing hormone. Patients with gynecomastia and spider naevi had higher estradiol levels than in those without these signs. Longitudinal studies indicated that the hormonal levels, endocrine features, and severity of the liver disease could change independently. It is concluded that the clearance of estradiol from plasma is normal in most patients with liver disease and that reduced degradation of estrogens is not the initial event in the sequence leading to the hormonal abnormalities of cirrhosis. Usual findings of liver failure are elevated gonadotropin levels and a poor Leydig cell response to HCG which suggest that the hypogonadism is primary in most patients with cirrhosis. Discrepancies in the expected relationships between the hormone and clinical changes suggest that other factors than those studied are also involved in the genesis of hepatic cirrhosis.
 ...
PMID:A study of the endocrine manifestations of hepatic cirrhosis. 76 39

Men suffering from liver cirrhosis were examined. They demonstrated a decrease in the blood content of gonadotropic hormones and testosterone and a rise of estradiol and prolactin. The changes indicated were more pronounced in decompensated liver cirrhosis and were associated with lipid peroxidation activation and a reduction of the count of T suppressor lymphocytes. As a result, the treatment of men suffering from decompensated liver cirrhosis and hyperprolactinemia by parlodel lowered blood prolactin and activity of lipid peroxidation. The use of chorionic gonadotropin for the treatment of men with decompensated liver cirrhosis and a low content of blood lutropin produces an immunomodulatory effect. Parlodel and chorionic gonadotropin favour a decrease of the cytolytic syndrome.
 ...
PMID:[The immunomodulating and hepatotropic effect of correcting hyperprolactinemia and hypophyseal gonadotropic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis patients]. 150 76

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a clinically relevant marker of trophoblastic and nontrophoblastic malignancies. In the present studies, in addition to determining serum hCG, we investigated the presence and properties of hCG immunoreactivity in ascites of patients with nontrophoblastic malignant tumors and, for comparison, in ascites caused by cirrhotic liver disease. Total hCG immunoreactivity [hCG (+hCG-beta)] was found to be elevated above the reference value (greater than 5 IU/liter) in the serum of 2 of 20 patients with cirrhosis and 11 of 20 patients with malignant tumors. For comparison, in ascites, hCG (+hCG-beta) concentrations were frequently higher than in the corresponding serum samples and exceeded 10 IU/liter in 0 of 20 cirrhotic samples and in 16 of 20 malignant samples. In order to elucidate the nature of the hCG immunoreactive material, all samples were then assessed by immunoradiometric assays specific for the intact hCG molecule (holo-hCG) and the free hCG-beta subunit, respectively. In the holo-hCG assay, elevated values were detected in 0 of 20 (0 of 20) cirrhotic ascites (serum) samples and 0 of 20 (1 of 20) malignant ascites (serum) samples. In the free hCG-beta assay, on the other hand, no positive results were obtained in the ascites or serum of 20 patients with liver cirrhosis; however, 8 of 20 serum samples and 16 of 20 ascites samples derived from tumor patients were positive. In accord with the immunological data, gel chromatographical studies of malignant ascites revealed the abundance of free hCG-beta subunit rather than that of holo-hCG. In contrast to malignancy-related ascites, in ascites of patients receiving hCG injections for treatment of infertility, holo-hCG was more abundant than free hCG-beta immunoreactivity. Incubation experiments of purified holo-hCG in ascites for 24 h at -20, 20, or 37 degrees C showed no substantial dissociation of the hCG molecule and release of free hCG-beta immunoreactivity, thus arguing against production of free hCG-beta by degradation of holo-hCG and in favor of its tumor-related secretion. In conclusion, hCG-beta immunoreactivity is frequently elevated in malignancy-related ascites and appears to be related to the presence of free beta subunit of hCG rather than that of the intact hCG molecule. Interestingly, hCG-beta determination in ascites proved to be clearly superior to serum measurement in discriminating between tumor and cirrhosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Immunoreactive human chorionic gonadotropin and its free beta subunit in serum and ascites of patients with malignant tumors. 154 Sep 61

Gonadal function in idiopathic hemochromatosis (IHC) was evaluated by comparing clinical features and levels of sex hormones in 10 male patients with IHC (cirrhosis, 4; fibrosis, 6), 6 male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) and 10 healthy, age-matched controls. Impotence was present in 9 IHC and all AC patients and was associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels. However, gynecomastia, a feature in all patients with AC, was not present in IHC, and plasma sex hormone binding globulin was normal. Patients with IHC showed significantly lower basal estradiol levels (17.7 +/- 6.3 pg per ml) than did controls (28.5 +/- 8.5 pg per ml), and low LH levels (p less than 0.01), which were insufficiently stimulated by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (n = 8) as well as a decrease in prolactin concentration (2.9 +/- 1.4 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.9 ng per ml in the controls) suggesting pituitary failure. Synthesizing capacity of sex hormones was determined by adrenocorticotropic hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administration. Basal and stimulated levels of androstenedione and cortisol indicated normal function of the adrenals in IHC. However after adrenocorticotropic hormone, estrone levels increased to only 16.2 +/- 8.4 pg per ml (controls, 27.3 +/- 4.7 pg per ml; p less than 0.01). Increments of estrone (12.5 +/- 9.2 pg per ml) and estradiol (17.9 +/- 11.6 pg per ml) were also lower in IHC following human chorionic gonadotropin administration than in controls (26.0 +/- 7.2 and 37.5 +/- 11.4 pg per ml, respectively). In contrast, plasma human chorionic gonadotropin raised testosterone levels 3.3-fold in IHC and 2.2-fold in controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Androgen and estrogen response to adrenal and gonadal stimulation in idiopathic hemochromatosis: evidence for decreased estrogen formation. 298 1

Gonadal function in male patients with various liver disease has been evaluated by basal plasma testosterone level and a response of plasma testosterone to human chorionic gonadotropin. Compared with healthy male subjects of similar age, gonadal function was not reduced in chronic hepatitis, but in alcoholic liver disease without cirrhosis and in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis. Gonadal dysfunction in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis was correlated with abnormal liver tests. It may be concluded that gonadal function in chronic liver disease is reduced either by alcohol abuse or disturbances of hepatic function and/or hepatic hemodynamics.
 ...
PMID:Gonadal function in male patients with alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease. 357 8

Seven males with liver cirrhosis associated with hepatitis and one with schistosomal liver fibrosis were studied for hypophyseal gonadal dysfunction and compared to six age matched controls. Cirrhotics as a group had higher serum 17 beta estradiol levels (22.1 +/- 6.3 vs 7.8 +/- 0.8 pg/ml, p less than 0.05) which did not rise after four days of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulation. Conversely, there was an adequate rise in serum testosterone level after hCG stimulation (332.8 +/- 99.7 ng/dl baseline to 887.6 +/- 67.1 ng/dl, p less than 0.01). Compared to the controls, cirrhotics had lower baseline serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (3.6 +/- 1.7 vs. 10.2 +/- 1.5 mIu/ml, p less than 0.02) and higher serum prolactin (13.5 +/- 2.5 vs. 6.8 +/- 1.0 ng/ml, p less than 0.05). Pituitary dynamic function testing in cirrhotics revealed blunted response of luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH, to luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) in four out of eight subjects tested. We conclude that the mechanism of hypogonadism in non-alcoholic cirrhosis is mostly hypogonadotropic in origin rather than primary gonadal injury which is common in alcoholic cirrhosis.
 ...
PMID:Hypophyseal-gonadal dysfunction in men with non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. 392 49

A 43-year-old male suffering from liver cirrhosis was admitted with complaints of general malaise and anorexia. Admission laboratory data evidenced high levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Histopathologically, the resected left testis and supraclavicular enlarged lymph nodes revealed mixed germ cell tumor. After castration, the serum HCG level normalized, but AFP continued to increase. Autopsy findings did not unequivocally show mixed germ cell tumor, however, massive type hepatocellular carcinoma was present. These findings suggest that the hepatocellular carcinoma produced AFP, while the mixed germ cell tumor produced HCG.
 ...
PMID:[An autopsy case of double cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma and mixed germ cell tumor of the testis)--significance of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin as tumor markers]. 619 21

The clinical value of the tumor marker human chorionic gonadotropin-beta (hCG-beta) in ascitic fluid for the differentiation of malignancy-related and non-malignant ascites was evaluated. Ascitic fluid protein, cholesterol and cytological examination were determined for comparison. Thirty-six patients with malignancy-related ascites (27 peritoneal carcinomatosis, 9 miscellaneous malignant causes without peritoneal carcinomatosis) and 69 patients with nonmalignant ascites (55 with liver cirrhosis, 14 with miscellaneous nonmalignant causes) were investigated. hCG-beta concentrations were elevated in malignant samples and with a cut-off value of 10 mIU/ml hCG-beta yielded a sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 94% and efficiency of 83%. Ascitic fluid protein (cut-off value 3.0 g/100 ml) and cholesterol (cut-off value 45 mg/100 ml) concentrations showed a sensitivity of 64%/83%, specificity of 77%/81% and efficiency of 72%/82%. The combination of hCG-beta and cytological examination yielded 89.5% differential diagnostic efficiency, superior to the combinations of protein and cytology or protein and hCG-beta. hCG-beta tended to be superior to protein/cholesterol determination regarding sensitivity (44% vs. 11%/33%) and specificity (79% vs. 50%/57%) in the subgroups of patients with miscellaneous causes of ascites. In conclusion, hCG-beta is frequently elevated in malignancy-related ascites and seems to be as useful a parameter as total protein for the differentiation of malignancy-related from nonmalignant ascites.
 ...
PMID:Human chorionic gonadotropin-beta in the differentiation of malignancy-related and nonmalignant ascites. 878

Tumor markers have been used for the evaluation of various malignancies though the existence of false positive results in some benign diseases is known. In this study, several established markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha fetoprotein, beta human chorionic gonadotropin, ferritin, CA 19-9 and CA 125 were measured in 60 patients with chronic active hepatitis, 70 patients with cirrhosis and 40 normal subjects in order to evaluate the rate of false elevation of tumor markers in chronic liver disease. Prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase levels were also measured in male patients and controls. Serum alpha fetoprotein levels were found elevated in 20% of patients with cirrhosis. The serum CA 19-9 level showed significant elevation in chronic active hepatitis (32%) and cirrhosis (44%). Increase in CA 125 concentration was also remarkable in chronic active hepatitis (23%) and especially in cirrhosis (74%). These results indicate that it is necessary to consider the presence of high false positivity rate of CA 19-9 and CA 125 during clinical interpretation of tumor markers in patients with chronic liver disease.
 ...
PMID:Serum tumor markers in chronic liver disease. 884 54

Using rat liver hepatocytes, methods of cytofluorimetry (Kudryavtseva et al., 1974) and biochemistry were applied to comparative studies of the total glycogen content, including its labile (LF) and stable (SF) fractions, and activities of glucose-6-phosphatase, glycogen phosphorylase and glycogensynthetase in these. The liver hepatocytes were examined in norm, and under conditions of CCl4 poisoning of rats, both 6 months after a chronic poisoning, and 1, 3 and 6 months following poisoning cessation. All the experimentally poisoned rats were divided into two conventional groups: rats of one group received, apart from poisoning, a complex treatment with chorionic gonadotropin (CG); the other group rats received, no treatment. The material used for examination was obtained from serial functional biopsies of each experimental animal. It has been shown that under cirrhosis the content of the total glycogen in hepatocytes increased by 3 times, and that of its SF even by 9.7 times. The treatment with CG for 1 month resulted in its reducing to the norm, and 3 to 6 months treatments normalized contents of both the glycogen fractions. In the group of non-treated rats no similar changes were registered. Besides, in the cirrotic rats the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was shown to increase by 4 times. After CG treatment it was seen to decrease by 3 times. Thus, CG may be regarded as an optimum and more effective agent for restoring abnormalities in cirrotic liver, compared to some other stimulating factors, such as hepatectomy (Kudryavtseva et al., 1996) or rich-carbohydrate diet (Kudryavtseva et al., 1998).
 ...
PMID:[Glycogen synthesizing function of hepatocytes in rats with liver cirrhosis after treatment with chorionic gonadotropin]. 1050 31


1 2 Next >>