Reduced urinary 6β-hydroxycortisol to cortisol ratios in patients with liver cirrhosis

Abstract While the urinary concentration ratio of 6β-hydroxycortisol (6β-HC) to cortisol (C) in 24-h urine samples is an established parameter for the induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A activity, it remains unclear whether it would be reduced in association with chronic liver damages. To clarify this issue we measured this parameter in 12 patients with chronic hepatitis, 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and 12 healthy subjects. Urinary 6β-HC and C were assayed with high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet absorption. Multiple regression analysis was performed to search for which biochemical or demographic parameter(s) would be associated with the overall variability of urinary 6β-HC/C ratios. Results showed that the mean (±S.D.) 6β-HC/C ratio obtained from the patients with liver cirrhosis (4.3±2.6), but not that from patients with chronic hepatitis (7.4±7.2), was significantly ( P R =0.61, P