Decreased production of active oxygen species by neutrophils in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) following infection is one of the postoperative complications of hepatectomy of cirrhosis. In this study we focused on the anti-microbial activity of nertrophils. We measured production of active oxygen species by neutrophils, and simultaneously examined their nutritional status, immunity and ICG (K-ICG) disappearance ratio. When compared to the controls, the patients with cirrhosis had siginificantly lower production of O 2 - upon stimulation by N-formyl-Met-Lue Phe (fMLP) or opsonic aymosan (OZ). The presence of cancer did not affect results for the groups studied. Overall H2O2 production was lower in cirrhotic patients than in controls. There was a positive coorelation between O 2 - production and K-ICG, which was used to estimate the severity of cirrhosis. Indicators of nutrition and immunity were slso lower in currhotic patients, but neither of these indicators correlated with the production of active oxygen specis. From these results, we concluded that the production of active oxygen species by neutrophils is lower in cirrhotic patients than in controls. Moreover, this decline correlates with the severity of cirrhosis.