The Role of Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide in Pathogenesis of Esophageal Varices in Portal Hypertension with Cirrhosis

Objective To investigate the role of calcitonin gene related peptide(CRGP) in pathogenesis of esophageal varices in portal hypertension with cirrhosis.Methods from January 2005 to August 2010,46 patients with portal hypertension and cirrhosis at different degrees of esophageal varices were divided into mild varicose group,moderate varicose group and severe varicose group according to the severity of esophageal varices.The patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery without liver disease were as the control.Portal vein pressure was detected by mercury during the surgery.The expression of CGRP was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The portal pressure was(14.8±2.1),(30.5±2.5),(44.3±3.2),and(47.6±3.8) cm H2O(1 cm H2O=0.098 kPa) in the control group and the mild,moderate and severe varicose group,respectively.Those CGRP content in the portal vein was(45.4±5.4),(69.2±7.2),(93.6±8.7),and(98.2±9.4) pg/mL,respectively.CGRP content and portal vein pressure were the lowest in control group,which were significantly lower than those in the other three groups(P0.05);which were also significantly lower in mild varicose group than those in the moderate and severe esophageal varices group(P0.05),while no statistic difference between moderate and severe esophageal varices group was found(P0.05).Conclusion CGRP plays an important role in the occurrence and development of portal hypertension with cirrhosis concurrent esophageal varices,and it may serve as a useful indicator reflecting the degree of esophageal varices.