Background/Aim—Despite some controversy, it has been suggested that endogenous benzodiazepine plays a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of the present study was to evaluatethe concentrations of endogenous benzodiazepines and the peptide, diazepam binding inhibitor, in the blood of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy, and to compare theselevels with those of consumers of commercial benzodiazepines.Subjects—Normal subjects (90), benzodiazepine consumers (14), and cirrhotic patients (113) were studied. Methods—Endogenous benzodiazepines were measured by the radioligand bindingtechnique after high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification. The presence of diazepam and N-desmethyldiazepam was assayed by HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.Diazepam binding inhibitor was studied in serum by radioimmunoassay. Results—Endogenous benzodiazepineswere below the limit of detection in 7% of patients with encephalopathy. When detectable, their levels were at least comparable with those of benzodiazepine consumers and correlated with the liver dysfunction but not the stage of encephalopathy.Serum levels of diazepam binding inhibitor tended to decrease when endogenous benzodiazepines levels increased. Conclusions—Endogenous benzodiazepines may accumulate in patients withliver cirrhosis during the course of the disease, and the phenomenon appears to be independent of the presence or absence of encephalopathy.

Endogenous benzodiazepine-like compounds and diazepam binding inhibitor in serum of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy / Avallone, Rossella; Zeneroli, Maria Luisa; I., Venturini; Corsi, Lorenzo; P., Schreier; M., Kleinschnitz; C., Ferrarese; Farina, Franco; Baraldi, Claudia; N., Pecora; M., Frigo; Baraldi, Mario. - In: GUT. - ISSN 0017-5749. - STAMPA. - 42:(1998), pp. 861-867.

Endogenous benzodiazepine-like compounds and diazepam binding inhibitor in serum of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy

AVALLONE, Rossella;ZENEROLI, Maria Luisa;CORSI, Lorenzo;FARINA, Franco;BARALDI, Claudia;BARALDI, Mario
1998

Abstract

Background/Aim—Despite some controversy, it has been suggested that endogenous benzodiazepine plays a role in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of the present study was to evaluatethe concentrations of endogenous benzodiazepines and the peptide, diazepam binding inhibitor, in the blood of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy, and to compare theselevels with those of consumers of commercial benzodiazepines.Subjects—Normal subjects (90), benzodiazepine consumers (14), and cirrhotic patients (113) were studied. Methods—Endogenous benzodiazepines were measured by the radioligand bindingtechnique after high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification. The presence of diazepam and N-desmethyldiazepam was assayed by HPLC-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.Diazepam binding inhibitor was studied in serum by radioimmunoassay. Results—Endogenous benzodiazepineswere below the limit of detection in 7% of patients with encephalopathy. When detectable, their levels were at least comparable with those of benzodiazepine consumers and correlated with the liver dysfunction but not the stage of encephalopathy.Serum levels of diazepam binding inhibitor tended to decrease when endogenous benzodiazepines levels increased. Conclusions—Endogenous benzodiazepines may accumulate in patients withliver cirrhosis during the course of the disease, and the phenomenon appears to be independent of the presence or absence of encephalopathy.
1998
GUT
42
861
867
Endogenous benzodiazepine-like compounds and diazepam binding inhibitor in serum of patients with liver cirrhosis with and without overt encephalopathy / Avallone, Rossella; Zeneroli, Maria Luisa; I., Venturini; Corsi, Lorenzo; P., Schreier; M., Kleinschnitz; C., Ferrarese; Farina, Franco; Baraldi, Claudia; N., Pecora; M., Frigo; Baraldi, Mario. - In: GUT. - ISSN 0017-5749. - STAMPA. - 42:(1998), pp. 861-867.
Avallone, Rossella; Zeneroli, Maria Luisa; I., Venturini; Corsi, Lorenzo; P., Schreier; M., Kleinschnitz; C., Ferrarese; Farina, Franco; Baraldi, Claudia; N., Pecora; M., Frigo; Baraldi, Mario
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