Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis

Background/Aim. Homocysteine (2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid) is an amino acid that may be found in small quantities in all cells, and is quantitatively the major methionine metabolite. The most prevalent form is protein-bound homocysteine (about 80%), mostly to albumins. If catabolism of homocy...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ćulafić Đorđe M., Marković Miroslav Lj., Obrenović Radmila Ž., Mijač Dragana D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2013-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2013/0042-84501200032C.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850175656830173184
author Ćulafić Đorđe M.
Marković Miroslav Lj.
Obrenović Radmila Ž.
Mijač Dragana D.
author_facet Ćulafić Đorđe M.
Marković Miroslav Lj.
Obrenović Radmila Ž.
Mijač Dragana D.
author_sort Ćulafić Đorđe M.
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aim. Homocysteine (2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid) is an amino acid that may be found in small quantities in all cells, and is quantitatively the major methionine metabolite. The most prevalent form is protein-bound homocysteine (about 80%), mostly to albumins. If catabolism of homocysteine is impaired either due to enzyme defect or deficiency of required intracellular cofactors, homocysteine accumulates in cells and reaches the circulation. The aim of our study was to determine homocysteine values and factors affecting homocysteine metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. The prospective study included 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. All the examinations were based on: medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests including serum homocysteine levels and liver biopsy. The degree of liver failure was assessed according to the Child-Pugh classification. Results. The mean plasma homocysteine levels were much higher in the patients with liver cirrhosis than in the healthy controls (t-test, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the plasma homocysteine concentration and etiology of liver cirrhosis (ANOVA, p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the homocysteine and creatinine concentrations and between the serum albumin and homocysteine values, (Pearson's correlation, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05 respectively). Conclusion. In liver cirrhosis, the genesis of homocysteinemia is multifactorial, influenced significantly by impaired catabolic liver function, renal failure and hypoalbuminemia.
format Article
id doaj-art-ba1691959fc94668b0a274a25db4a4ea
institution OA Journals
issn 0042-8450
language English
publishDate 2013-01-01
publisher Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade
record_format Article
series Vojnosanitetski Pregled
spelling doaj-art-ba1691959fc94668b0a274a25db4a4ea2025-08-20T02:19:26ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502013-01-01701576010.2298/VSP110823032CPlasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosisĆulafić Đorđe M.Marković Miroslav Lj.Obrenović Radmila Ž.Mijač Dragana D.Background/Aim. Homocysteine (2-amino-4-mercaptobutyric acid) is an amino acid that may be found in small quantities in all cells, and is quantitatively the major methionine metabolite. The most prevalent form is protein-bound homocysteine (about 80%), mostly to albumins. If catabolism of homocysteine is impaired either due to enzyme defect or deficiency of required intracellular cofactors, homocysteine accumulates in cells and reaches the circulation. The aim of our study was to determine homocysteine values and factors affecting homocysteine metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods. The prospective study included 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls. All the examinations were based on: medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests including serum homocysteine levels and liver biopsy. The degree of liver failure was assessed according to the Child-Pugh classification. Results. The mean plasma homocysteine levels were much higher in the patients with liver cirrhosis than in the healthy controls (t-test, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the plasma homocysteine concentration and etiology of liver cirrhosis (ANOVA, p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the homocysteine and creatinine concentrations and between the serum albumin and homocysteine values, (Pearson's correlation, p < 0.01, and p < 0.05 respectively). Conclusion. In liver cirrhosis, the genesis of homocysteinemia is multifactorial, influenced significantly by impaired catabolic liver function, renal failure and hypoalbuminemia.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2013/0042-84501200032C.pdfhemocisteineliver cirrhosishypoalbuminemiacreatinine
spellingShingle Ćulafić Đorđe M.
Marković Miroslav Lj.
Obrenović Radmila Ž.
Mijač Dragana D.
Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
hemocisteine
liver cirrhosis
hypoalbuminemia
creatinine
title Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
title_full Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
title_fullStr Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
title_full_unstemmed Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
title_short Plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
title_sort plasma homocysteine levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
topic hemocisteine
liver cirrhosis
hypoalbuminemia
creatinine
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2013/0042-84501200032C.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT culaficđorđem plasmahomocysteinelevelsinpatientswithlivercirrhosis
AT markovicmiroslavlj plasmahomocysteinelevelsinpatientswithlivercirrhosis
AT obrenovicradmilaz plasmahomocysteinelevelsinpatientswithlivercirrhosis
AT mijacdraganad plasmahomocysteinelevelsinpatientswithlivercirrhosis