[The role of interleukin-6 and nitric oxide in pathogenesis of portal hypertension and decompensation of liver cirrhosis].

The study included 49 patients (29 men and 20 women) aged 23-65 years with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 12 (7 men and 5 women) with chronic hepatitis (CH). Etiological factors of LC were hepatitis B and C viruses (in 22 and 16 patients respectively) and alcohol (n=11). Patients with LC showed high levels of blood nitrates and their impaired urinary excretion. In patients with class A LC, nitric oxide levels tended to increase while in those with class B and C LC they were significantly higher than normal. Correlaion analysis revealed the strong dependence of blood nitric oxide level on portal blood flow, hepatic congestion index, the presence of ascitis, and the degree of varicose dilation of oesophageal veins. It also correlated with the serum IL-6 level that increased with deterioration of hepatic function. Patients with class C LC had high IL-6 levels than those with class A and B LC.