Binge drinking and nitric oxide metabolites in chronic liver disease

AIMS: The effect of binge drinking in the production of nitric oxide metabolites has not been studied in patients with chronic viral liver disease. METHODS: We therefore studied serum levels of nitrites and nitrates (NOx) in 13 patients with chronic viral hepatitis and nine patients with compensated viral cirrhosis, after administration of 80 g alcohol. 15 patients with compensated alcoholic cirrhosis and seven healthy individuals were used as controls. Serum NOx levels were measured by a modification of the Griess reaction before and at 2, 12 and 24 h after alcohol consumption. RESULTS: An increase of serum NOx levels, that was statistically significant at 12 h, was found in healthy controls (P < 0.05). A similar pattern of NOx levels was observed in patients with chronic hepatitis. By contrast, in patients with cirrhosis, either viral or alcoholic, no significant increase was found after alcohol administration. However, basal levels in cirrhotics were significantly elevated (82.2 +/- 13.8 vs. 43.1 +/- 7.2 micro mol/l, P < 0.01) compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Binge drinking causes a significant increase of serum NOx evident after 12 h with a return after 24 h at pre-drinking levels in healthy controls and patients with chronic viral hepatitis. In cirrhosis, such an increase is not observed serum levels being constantly elevated throughout the study period.