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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2007; 13(43): 5750-5753
Published online Nov 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i43.5750
Plasma and platelet serotonin levels in patients with liver cirrhosis
Đorđe M Ćulafić, Duško S Mirković, Miodrag D Vukčević, Jelena S Rudić
Đorđe M Ćulafić, Duško S Mirković, Miodrag D Vukčević, Jelena S Rudić, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Institute of Digestive Diseases; Institute of Medical Biochemistry; Institute of Pulmonary Diseases; Clinical Center of Serbia, Medical Faculty, Belgrade
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Đorđe M Ćulafić, Assistant Professor, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Clinical Center of Serbia, Koste Todorovica 6 street, Belgrade 11000, Serbia. dculafic@eunet.yu
Telephone: +387-11-2629811 Fax: + 387-11-2629811
Received: June 4, 2007
Revised: July 31, 2007
Accepted: October 19, 2007
Published online: November 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To analyze the relationship between plasma and platelet serotonin levels and the degree of liver insufficiency.

METHODS: The prospective study included 30 patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 healthy controls. The degree of liver failure was assessed according to the Child-Pugh classification. Platelet and platelet poor plasma serotonin levels were determined.

RESULTS: The mean plasma serotonin level was higher in liver cirrhosis patients than in healthy subjects (215.0 ± 26.1 vs 63.1 ± 18.1 nmol/L; P < 0.0001). The mean platelet serotonin content was not significantly different in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with healthy individuals (4.8 ± 0.6; 4.2 ± 0.3 nmol/platelet; P > 0.05). Plasma serotonin levels were significantly higher in Child-Pugh grade A/B than in grade C patients (246.8 ± 35.0 vs 132.3 ± 30.7 nmol/L; P < 0.05). However, platelet serotonin content was not significantly different between Child-Pugh grade C and grade A/B (4.6 ± 0.7 vs 5.2 ± 0.8 nmol/platelet; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Plasma serotonin levels are significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis than in the controls and represent the degree of liver insufficiency. In addition, platelet poor plasma serotonin estimation is a better marker for liver insufficiency than platelet serotonin content.

Keywords: Serotonin; Plasma; Platelet; Liver cirrhosis