Effect of antioxidant potential on severity of cirrhosis in humans

Background/Aims: to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. Methods: fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patient's clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. Results: the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. Conclusion: we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.