Significance of pathological changes and prognosis in chronic hepatic disease by assay of plasma level of neuropeptide Y

Objective To study and analyze the significance of the changes of plasma level of neuropeptide (NPY) in the patients with chronic hepatic disease. Methods The plasma levels of NPY were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 17 chronic hepatitis patients, 48 hepatic cirrhosis patients and 21 healthy controls. 48 patients with hepatic cirrhosis were divided into three groups: hepatic cirrhosis without ascites (n=25), hepatic cirrhosis with ascites but without hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) (n=19), hepatic cirrhosis with HRS (n = 4). 48 hepatic cirrhosis patients were also divided into another three groups according to liver function: Child A (n=20), Child B (n=16), Child C (n=12). Results Compared with healthy controls , the plasma levels of NPY in chronic hepatitis patients and hepatic cirrhosis patients without ascites had not significant statistical difference (P0. 05); but plasma levels of NPY in patients with hepatic cirrhosis and ascites or those with HRS had significant difference (P0. 05). No corralation was found between plasma level of NPY and liver function, but the plasma level of NPY was correlated directly with plasma levels of BUN and Cr (r=0. 872, P0. 01; r=0. 857, P0. 01). Conclusion The determination of plasma level of NPY in patients with chronic hepatic disease may be one of important indexes in evaluation of disease and prognosis.