Circulating levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in liver disease.

In animals, the effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) include peripheral vasodilation, hyperdynamic circulation, hyperglycemia, and hyperventilation. Because these phenomena are noted in patients with cirrhosis, it has been postulated that VIP might be escaping hepatic inactivation and entering the systemic circulatory system and contributing to these abnormalities. The major purpose of this study is to establish whether or not VIP levels are elevated in patients with cirrhosis. Additional goals are to determine if VIP levels are elevated in acute liver disease and in chronic illnesses with secondary liver involvement. The data demonstrate that patients with cirrhosis and those with acute liver disease or chronic illnesses with secondary hepatic involvement have a wide range of VIP levels with mean values significantly above that of normal individuals and patients with chronic illness and no liver involvement.