[Significances of plasma levels of neuropeptide Y pre- and post-treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites].

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes of plasma neuropeptide Y(NPY) level in ascitic patients with decompensated cirrhosis pre- and post-treatment, there fore to understand the correlation of NPY with liver function and ascitic formation. METHODS: NPY plasma levels in 20 patients with decompensated cirrhosis and ascites were detected by radioimmunological assay. RESULTS: Plasma NPY levels in patients with cirrhotic ascites were significantly lower than those in normal subjects(P < 0.01) in spite of the increases of NPY after ascites decreased (P < 0.01), which were still lower than those in normal subjects(P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Decreased plasma NPY levels are correlated with the severity of liver damage and may be responsible for the changes of hemodynamics and ascitic formation in patients with liver cirrhosis.