Relationship between interleukin-6 and ammonia in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy due to liver cirrhosis |
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Authors: | Ming Luo Lei Li Er-Na Yang Wu-Kui Cao |
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Affiliation: | 1. Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University Present address: Tianjin Liver Disease Institute, Tianjin Infectious Disease Hospital, 75 Sudi Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300192, China. Email:caowukui@126.com;2. Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University;3. Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine |
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Abstract: | Aim: Previous studies have shown significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), but the relationship between circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between both variables in cirrhotic patients with MHE. Methods: Psychometric tests including number connection test part A (NCT-A) and digit symbol test (DST) were performed to diagnose MHE in 85 cirrhotic patients. Simultaneously, circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia were measured. Results: Thirty-two (37.6%) cirrhotic patients were diagnosed with MHE. IL-6 and ammonia were the independent predictors of the presence of MHE (P < 0.05 for both variables). Circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia correlated with the severity of MHE represented by results of NCT-A (r = 0.56, P < 0.05 and r = 0.39, P < 0.05, respectively) and DST (r = −0.48, P < 0.05 and r = −0.47, P < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between circulating levels of IL-6 and those of ammonia in patients with MHE (r = 0.61, P < 0.05), and a positive additive interaction was found between IL-6 and ammonia on the presence of MHE, with a significant synergy index of 1.51 (95% confidence interval = 1.12–3.46). Conclusion: The present study demonstrates a significant correlation and a positive additive interaction between IL-6 and ammonia in cirrhotic patients with MHE, suggesting that IL-6 may have a potential synergistic relationship with ammonia in the induction of MHE. |
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Keywords: | ammonia interleukin-6 minimal hepatic encephalopathy relationship |
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