Significance of increased plasma adrenomedullin concentration in patients with cirrhosis

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 840 - 846
• Main Authors: Kojima, Hideyuki, Tsujimoto, Tatsuhiro, Uemura, Masahito, Takaya, Akira, Okamoto, Shingo, Ueda, Shirou, Nishio, Kenji, Miyamoto, Seiji, Kubo, Atsushi, Minamino, Naoto, Kangawa, Kenji, Matsuo, Hisayuki, Fukui, Hiroshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.05.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adrenomedullin; Aged; Ascites; Ascites - blood; Bilirubin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood Pressure; Creatinine - metabolism; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Heart Rate; Humans; Hyperdynamic circulation; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - physiopathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Norepinephrine - metabolism; Other diseases. Semiology; Peptides - blood; Radioimmunoassay; Reference Values; Regression Analysis; Renin - blood; Severity of Illness Index; Vascular Resistance; Vasodilatation; Adrenomedullin; Vasodilatation; Ascites; Hyperdynamic circulation; Liver cirrhosis; Human; Concentration factor; Vasodilator agent; Effusion; Pathogenesis; Liver; Hepatic disease; Cirrhosis; Abdominal disease; Digestive diseases; Complication; Evolution; Endocrinology; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8278(98)80235-3

Background/Aims: Adrenomedullin recently discovered in human pheochromocytoma is a potent vasodilatory peptide mainly derived from vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Hyperdynamic circulation, ultimately leading to ascites formation, has been attributed to peripheral vasodilatation in liver cirrhosis. However, little is known about the role of adrenomedullin in this condition. Methods: Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction and purification in 28 cirrhotic patients without ascites, 12 cirrhotic patients with ascites and 20 healthy subjects. Results: Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations in cirrhotic patients with ascites (12.7±4.5 fmol/ml) were significantly higher than those in cirrhotic patients without ascites (8.2±2.3 fmol/ml, p<0.005) and healthy subjects (5.8±0.8 fmol/ml, p<0.005). Interestingly, plasma adrenomedullin concentrations were highest in patients with refractory ascites ( n=5, 15.8±3.0 fmol/ml) and were positively correlated with the Child-Pugh score ( r=0.44, p<0.01). Moreover, plasma adrenomedullin concentrations were positively correlated with plasma renin activity ( r=0.63, p<0.0001), plasma aldosterone ( r=0.60, p<0.0001) and plasma norepinephrine concentrations ( r=0.60, p<0.0001), and negatively correlated with creatinine clearance ( r=−0.61, p<0.0005) and urinary sodium excretion ( r=−0.44, p<0.02). Stepwise multiple regression analysis using certain independent variables, including Pugh's score, vasoactive substances, renal function and hemodynamic parameters, showed that the adjusted R square was highest when plasma renin activity and creatinine clearance (standard coefficient=0.53, −0.49, respectively) were considered (adjusted R square=0.61, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Plasma adrenomedullin concentrations increased with the progression of liver cirrhosis and were highest in cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites. In addition, elevated adrenomedullin was associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and sympathetic nervous systems, and with functional renal impairment in cirrhosis. Considering the potent vasodilatory action of adrenomedullin, increased adrenomedullin may participate in the hyperdynamic circulation, ultimately leading to ascites formation, in patients with liver cirrhosis.