Arteriosclerosis in liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Since cirrhotic condition has been known to ameliorate systemic arteriosclerosis from a clinical standpoint, we investigated the amelioration in necropsy liver cirrhotic (LC) cases (n=57) both by macroscopic and microscopic examinations, comparing with age-matched patient control (PC) (n=50) (study 1), and further compared the serum lipid and apoprotein levels between 31 LC and 30 PC in hospitalized patient basis (study 2). Macroscopic examination demonstrated less arteriosclerotic in LC than in PC and microscopic analysis by obtaining the ratio or the arteriole lumen to total arteriole area showed the age-related attenuation of the sclerosis in LC, while PC showed age-related exacerbation of the arteriosclerosis. In study 2 there were significantly lower serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in LC but LDL, cholesterol did not differ significantly between two groups. Serum apoprotein (AP) A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 levels were significantly lower in LC than in PC, while AP-A-1/A-2 ratio and AP-E increased significantly in LC compared with PC. The present AP alterations suggest that HDL₃-C appear to be reduced but HDL₂-C was restored in LC, although total HDL-C was reduced significantly. The present results suggest that LC ameliorate the arteriosclerosis and the amelioration may be partly due to alteration of lipid and AP in cirrhosis.