[Factors affecting the concentration of plasma tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and liver function tests values in alcohol dependent males after alcohol drinking cessation].

AIMS: In our work, the factors affecting the plasma level of cytokine, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and liver function tests values in alcohol dependent males after alcohol abuse period were analysed.

METHODS

We studied forty-seven alcoholics, without severe liver disease, who were abstinent no longer than 14 days before the study beginning. In all 24-h gastric pH-metry, endoscopy, serum liver function tests and TNF-alfa concentration were estimated.

RESULTS

The amount of alcohol drunk within 90 days before the study start correlated with plasma activity of AST, ALT and GGT. The plasma presence of TNF-alpha in 26 subjects was found, but in 21 patients this cytokine level was lower than the method sensitivity (< 0.05 pg/ ml). Using the step-wise method of multiple regression we found, that TNF-alfa level at the study commencement was determined by history of delirium tremens, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test score, length of alcohol dependence, ALT activity, % of total monitoring time with gastric pH >3, intensity of antral H. pylori colonisation and number of standard drinks drunk for 90 days before the study start (ns). Similar factors determined liver function tests values variance.

CONCLUSION

Values of TNF-alpha and liver function tests two weeks after alcohol withdrawal were independently determined by gastric pH, H.pylori infection and smoking, which suggests their potential synergism with a hepatotoxic effect of alcohol drinking.