Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
1992-6-19
pubmed:abstractText
The hemodynamic response to propranolol in patients with cirrhosis is heterogeneous. In some patients, there is an expected decrease in portal pressure, whereas in others, portal pressure fails to decrease despite adequate beta-blockade. It has been suggested that this lack of response could be related to down-regulation of beta 2-adrenoceptors, promoted by the increased adrenergic activity frequently found in decompensated cirrhosis. The present study investigated this hypothesis by measuring the density and affinity of lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors (L-beta 2-AR), an established index of beta 2-adrenoceptors in target organs, and the plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine in a group of 32 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The portal pressure response to propranolol administration (0.1 mg/kg + 2 mg/h) was also investigated (n = 27). Patients with cirrhosis had increased norepinephrine levels (605 +/- 360 vs. 224 +/- 110 pg/mL in controls; P less than 0.001), but plasma epinephrine level was not increased (136 +/- 72 vs. 111 +/- 22 pg/mL in controls; NS). There were no differences between cirrhotic patients and controls in the density of L-beta 2-AR (1398 +/- 489 vs. 1278 +/- 356 receptors/cell; NS). Portal pressure decreased greater than 10% in 12 patients (responders) and less than 10% in the remaining 15 (nonresponders). Contrary to previous suggestions, there were no significant differences between responders and nonresponders in relation to the density of L-beta 2-AR (1362 +/- 527 vs. 1487 +/- 419 receptors/cell; NS), to the affinity of these receptors (0.15 +/- 0.27 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.12 nmol/L; NS), to the plasma levels of norepinephrine (661 +/- 508 vs. 621 +/- 256 pg/mL; NS), and to plasma epinephrine concentration (141 +/- 90 vs. 140 +/- 75 pg/mL; NS). These results show that the response of portal pressure to propranolol administration is neither related to the density and affinity of L-beta 2-AR nor to the plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Thus, the determination of these parameters cannot substitute measurements of portal pressure to identify those patients with an adequate portal pressure response to propranolol treatment.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0016-5085
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
102
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2015-23
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1992
pubmed:articleTitle
Lymphocyte beta 2-adrenoceptors and plasma catecholamines in patients with cirrhosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, University of Barcelona, Spain.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't