Oxidative stress, NOx/l-arginine ratio and glutathione/glutathione S-transferase ratio as predictors of ‘sterile inflammation’ in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and hepatorenal syndrome type II

AbstractContinuous intake of alcohol leads to liver cirrhosis because of imbalance of oxidative stress/antioxidative defense and chronic ‘sterile inflammation’. Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is the most severe complication of liver cirrhosis. The aim of our study was to assess: (1) the oxidative stress/antioxidative defense markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidative glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), (2) inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)], and (3) nitrate/nitrite levels (NOx) and its substrate L-arginine level. The study enrolled three groups: a group with cirrhosis and HRS (48 patients), a group with cirrhosis without HRS (32 patients), and a control group (40 healthy blood donors). All the patients with cirrhosis and HRS had type II HRS. MDA concentration was significantly higher in the groups with cirrhosis with and without HRS. Significant positive correlation was documented between the MDA level and de Ritis coefficient (AST/ALT), a marker of liver damage severity; between...