VALIDITY OF SERUM LEUKOTRIENE B4 AS A PREDICTIVE MARKER OF DECOMPENSATED LIVER CIRRHOSIS IN CHRONIC HCV PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: Liver cirrhosis is divided into two stages; compensated stage and another advanced stage which includes both decompensated cirrhosis and acute-on-chronic liver failure. The immune system is of major importance in cirrhosis pathophysiology. Sustained bacterial translocation from intestine to systemic circulation causes a chronic systemic inflammatory syndrome. Inflammatory markers are emerging in the scope of cirrhosis and its complications due to their deleterious effects on disease progression and prognosis. The aim of the study was to assess the value of Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) as a predictive marker of decompensated cirrhosis and to evaluate its relation to disease progression and complications.Results: The current study was conducted on 80 candidates in Alexandria main university hospital, Tropical medicine Department, they were categorized into three groups, group I (n=30) compensated cirrhotic patients, group II (n=30) decompensated cirrhotic patients and group III (n=20) apparently healthy individuals. Serum LTB4 was measured by ELISA. LTB4 showed statistically significant higher values in decompensated group than the compensated group (p=0.007) and the control group (p=0.002). However there was no statistically significant difference between the compensated group and the controls (p=0.510). LTB4 correlated positively with Child Pugh score (p=0.003). Moreover, it correlated positively with MELD-Na score (p=0.012). There was significant correlation between degree of ascites and serum LTB4 (p 0.204).Conclusion: Serum LTB4 could be used as a sensitive biomarker of decompensation in cirrhotic patients.