Development of risky varices in alcoholic cirrhosis with a well-maintained nutritional status

• Published in: World journal of hepatology Vol. 7; no. 21; pp. 2358 - 2362
• Main Authors: Enomoto, Hirayuki, Sakai, Yoshiyuki, Iwata, Yoshinori, Takata, Ryo, Aizawa, Nobuhiro, Ikeda, Naoto, Hasegawa, Kunihiro, Nakano, Chikage, Nishimura, Takashi, Yoh, Kazunori, Ishii, Akio, Takashima, Tomoyuki, Nishikawa, Hiroki, Iijima, Hiroko, Nishiguchi, Shuhei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Baishideng Publishing Group Inc 28.09.2015
• Subjects: Alcoholic; cirrhosis;Hepatitis; liver; Retrospective Cohort Study; virus;Rapid; Esophageal varices; Portal hypertension; Albumin; Non-protein respiratory quotient; Rapid-turnover proteins; Hepatitis C virus; Nutritional status; Alcoholic liver cirrhosis
• ISSN: 1948-5182; 1948-5182
• DOI: 10.4254/wjh.v7.i21.2358

AIM: To compare the nutritional status between alcoholic compensated cirrhotic patients and hepatitis C virus(HCV)-related cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.METHODS: A total of 21 patients with compensated cirrhosis(14 with HCV-related cirrhosis and seven with alcoholic cirrhosis) who had risky esophageal varices were investigated. In addition to physical variables, including the body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, and arm-muscle circumference, the nutritional status was also assessed using the levels of pre-albumin(pre-ALB), retinol-binding protein(RBP) and non-protein respiratory quotient(NPRQ) measured with an indirect calorimeter.RESULTS: A general assessment for the nutritional status with physical examinations did not show a significant difference between HCV-related cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis. However, the levels of pre-ALB and RBP in alcoholic compensated cirrhotic patients were significantly higher than those in HCV-related compensated cirrhotic patients. In addition, the frequency of having a normal nutritional status(NPRQ ≥ 0.85 and ALB value > 3.5 g/d L) in alcoholic compensated cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that in HCV-related compensated cirrhotic patients.CONCLUSION: According to our small scale study, alcoholic compensated cirrhotic patients can develop severe portal hypertension even with a relatively well-maintained liver function and nutritional status compared with HCV-related cirrhosis.