ABSTRACT
AIM:
The aim of the study was to assess the implication of Zonulin, a mediator
protein synthesized by
intestine and the
liver,in
patients with chronic
liver diseases. MATERIALS AND
METHODS:
Twenty-six
patients with chronic
liver diseases due to
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and
hepatitis B virus (HBV) were enrolled in this study. Out of total 26
patients, 17 were diagnosed as
chronic hepatitis (CH) and 9 were
patients with
liver cirrhosis (LC). Twenty-four of these
patients were infected with
hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the
rest two by
hepatitis B virus (HBV). The study was conducted at Saiseikai-Imabari
Hospital, Imabari, Ehime,
Japan.
Serum levels of Zonulin along with different
parameters of
liver function test were measured in all
patients and comparative analyses were accomplished.
RESULTS:
The
serum levels of Zonulin were significantly lower in CH
patients compared to controls (p<0.001). Also, the levels of Zonulin were significantly lower in
patients with LC compared to CH and normal controls (p<0.001). Further
analysis revealed that
serum Zonulin was significantly lower in
patients with LC having
ascites than those without
ascites (p <0.05). There was a significant correlation of
serum levels of Zonulin with
platelet count,
cholinesterase, and
albumin in
patients with chronic
liver diseases.
DISCUSSION:
Decreased levels of Zonulin may be related to impaired
production of this mediator in the diseased
liver. It
will be tempting to assess the
regulation of Zonulin in the
liver, a
production site of the mediator. ABBREVIATIONS LC
Liver cirrhosis, CH
Chronic hepatitis, HCV
Hepatitis C virus, HBV
Hepatitis B virus, LGS Leaky gut syndromeHow to cite this article Akao T, Morita A, Onji M, Miyake T, Watanabe R, Uehara T, Kawasaki K, Miyaike J, Oomoto M. Low
Serum Levels of Zonulin in
Patients with HCV-Infected Chronic
Liver Diseases. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol, 2018;8(2)112-115.
