Reduction of virus burden-induced splenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis related to hepatitis

• 作 者: Tetsuro Sekiguchi Takeaki Nagamine Hitoshi Takagi Masatomo Mori
• 机 构: Department of Medicine and Molecular Science Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine Maebashi,J
• 出 处: World Journal of Gastroenterology
• 发表日期: 2006年13期
• 关键词: Hepatitis C virus Liver cirrhosis Natural killer cell Splenectomy

AIM: To examine the hepatitis C virus (HCV) levels and immunological markers in cirrhotic patients after splenectomy. METHODS: HCV RNA titers as well as cellular and humoral immune markers were determined in 20 cirrhotic patients after splenectomy and in 32 cirrhotic controls with an intact spleen. RESULTS: Serum HCV RNA titers were lower in the splenectomized patients than in the controls (186±225×103 copies/ml vs 541±417×103 copies/mL, P<0.01). HCV RNA was judged to have been spontaneously eradicated in 4 splenectomized patients, but in none of the controls. Natural killer cell activity was higher in the splenectomized patients than in the controls (41.2±19.3% vs 24.7±15.3%, P<0.01), and natural killer cell activity was negatively correlated to HCV RNA titers in the splenectomized patients except in those with serotype 2-related infection. The CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly lower in the splenectomized patients than in the controls. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that splenectomy may diminish virus burden in cirrhotic patients with HCV infection at least in part, through augmentation of natural killer cell activity.

AIM: To examine the hepatitis C virus (HCV) levels and immunological markers in cirrhotic patients after splenectomy. METHODS: HCV RNA titers as well as cellular and humoral immune markers were determined in 20 cirrhotic patients after splenectomy and in 32 cirrhotic controls with an intact spleen. RESULTS: Serum HCV RNA titers were lower in the splenectomized patients than in the controls (186 ± 225 × 103 copies / ml vs 541 ± 417 × 103 copies / mL, P <0.01). HCV RNA was judged to have been spontaneously eradicated in 4 splenectomized patients, but in none of the controls. Natural killer cell activity was higher in the splenectomized patients than in the controls (41.2 ± 19.3% vs 24.7 ± 15.3%, P <0.01) correlated to HCV RNA titers in the splenectomized patients except in those with serotype 2-related infection. The CD4 / CD8 ratio was significantly lower in the splenectomized patients than in the controls. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that splenec tomy may diminish virus burden in cirrhotic patients with HCV infection at least in part, through augmentation of natural killer cell activity.