Correlation of inflammation parameters and biochemical markers of cholestasis with the intensity of lipid peroxidation in patients with choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND/AIM During choledocholitiasis inflammatory oxidant stress involves the promotion of mitochondrial dysfunction through an intracellular oxidant stress in hepatocytes leading mainly to necrosis and less to apoptosis. The product of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde (MDA), is extremely cytotoxic and damages cell membranes and intracellular macromolecules. The toxicity of MDA is based on its ability to act as a mutagenic agent in a cell. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study was to establish correlation of the parameters of inflammation and biochemical markers of cholestasis with the intensity of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of liver function disorders. METHODS Seventy adult subjects of either sex included in the study were devided into two groups: I--40 patients with obstructive icterus caused by choledocholithiasis, and II--30 healthy individuals. All the participants were subjected to a clinical, laboratory and ultrasonic check-up at the Internal Department of the Military Hospital in Nis. The parameters of oxidative stress: MDA, a measure of lipid peroxidation, and inflammation parameters: C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, albumins, number of leukocytes (Leu), granulocytes (Gr), lymphocytes (Ly) and monocytes (Mo) and biochemical markers of cholestasis: activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzymes, the level of total, direct and indirect bilirubin were determined by standard biochemical methods. RESULTS Lower values of albumin (p < 0.001), and significantly higher values of fibrinogen (p < 0.05) and CRP (p < 0.001) were found in the blood of the patients with cholestasis due to choledocholithiasis in relation to the controls. Significantly higher values of Leu (p < 0.01) and Gr (p < 0.001) with decreasing number of Ly (p < 0.001) and Mo (p < 0.001) were found in blood of the patients with cholestasis due to choledocholithiasis in relation to the control. Similarly, higher values of gamma-GT, and AP (p < 0.001), as well as the level of total, direct and indirect bilirubin (p < 0.001) were found in blood of the patients with cholestasis due to choledocholithiasis in relation to the controls. The concentration of MDA (p < 0.001) was increased in the patients with choledocholithiasis in relation to the controls. There was a significant positive linear correlation of the number of leukocytes (r = 0.51, p < 0.05) and the concentration of total (r = 0.87, p < 0.01), direct (r = 0.85, p < 0.01) and indirect (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) bilirubin with the concentration of MDA in the group of patients with choledocholithiasis. CONCLUSION Neutrophils and the levels of total, direct and indirect bilirubin have a significant positive linear correlation with the level of lipid peroxidation in patients with choledocholithiasis. Neutrophilia and hiperbilirubinemia observed in this way represent important parameters in estimating the level of liver tissue damage in choledocholithiasis.