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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Circulating levels of 3-hydroxymyristate, a direct quantification of endotoxaemia in noninfected cirrhotic patients

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IF 4.5; International audience; Background & AimsThe quantification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in biological fluids is challenging. We aimed to measure plasma LPS concentration using a new method of direct quantification of 3‐hydroxymyristate (3‐HM), a lipid component of LPS, and to evaluate correlations between 3‐HM and markers of liver function, endothelial activation, portal hypertension and enterocyte damage.MethodsPlasma from 90 noninfected cirrhotic patients (30 Child‐Pugh [CP]‐A, 30 CP‐B, 30 CP‐C) was prospectively collected. The concentration of 3‐HM was determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.Results3‐HM levels were higher in CP‐C patients (CP‐A/CP‐B/CP‐C: 68/70/103 ng/mL, P = 0.005). Patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis (n = 16; 113 vs 74 ng/mL, P = 0.012), diabetic patients (n = 22; 99 vs 70 ng/mL, P = 0.028) and those not receiving beta blockers (n = 44; 98 vs 72 ng/mL, P = 0.034) had higher levels of 3‐HM. We observed a trend towards higher baseline levels of 3‐HM in patients with hepatic encephalopathy (n = 7; 144 vs 76 ng/mL, P = 0.45) or SIRS (n = 10; 106 vs 75 ng/mL, P = 0.114). In multivariate analysis, high levels of 3‐HM were associated with CP (OR = 4.39; 95%CI = 1.79‐10.76) or MELD (OR = 8.24; 95%CI = 3.19‐21.32) scores. Patients dying from liver insufficiency (n = 6) during a 12‐month follow‐up had higher baseline levels of 3‐HM (106 vs 75 ng/mL, P = 0.089).ConclusionsIn noninfected cirrhotic patients, 3‐HM arises more frequently with impairment of liver function, heavy alcohol consumption, diabetic status, nonuse of beta blockers and a trend towards poorer outcome is also observed. The direct mass measurement of LPS using 3‐HM appears reliable to detect transient endotoxaemia and promising to manage the follow‐up of cirrhotic patients.