Usefulness of the derivative of reactive oxygen metabolites test on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive chronic liver disorder in which oxidative stress plays a major role in development and progression. In this study, we examined whether the derivative of reactive oxygen metabolites test (d-ROMs test) is useful in assessing the degree of oxidative stress in NASH. In addition, biopsied liver tissues were immunostained for 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) to investigate whether the d-ROMs test reflects the degree of oxidative stress in NASH liver. Compared with healthy individuals, NASH patients had significantly higher serum d-ROM levels and more 8-OHdG-positive hepatocytes in liver tissues, and there was a correlation between d-ROM levels and 8-OHdG-positive rate in patients with NASH. These results suggest that the d-ROMs test is useful for assessing the degree of oxidative stress in patients with NASH.