Endotoxin inactivating action of plasma in patients with liver cirrhosis

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Abstract
The endotoxin inactivating action of plasma was evaluated in 62 patients with cirrhosis and 10 healthy subjects. Endotoxin from E. coli 0111: B4 was added to each plasma sample to a final concentration of 250 pg/ml and the percentage loss of endotoxin activity by incubation (37°C for 1 h) was calculated as the endotoxin inactivating rate. The plasma endotoxin inactivating rate in cirrhotics was significantly greater than that in healthy subjects, although patients with Child C cirrhosis and marked hyperbilirubinemia had a significantly lower endotoxin inactivating rate than other cirrhotics. The plasma endotoxin inactivating rate was positively correlated to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. In patients with Child A and Child B cirrhosis, the endotoxin inactivating rate was positively correlated to the endotoxin binding capacity of plasma albumin. The present results support the assumption that the plasma of cirrhotics has a high endotoxin inactivating capacity. Its decrease may augment endotoxicity in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.