Systemic endotoxemia during chronic viral hepatitis

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Systemic endotoxemia, an indicator of gut barrier dysfunction, is increasingly recognized in chronic liver diseases.
• Viral hepatitis B and C are major global health concerns with significant hepatic and systemic implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and severity of systemic endotoxemia in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C.
• To compare endotoxemia levels in chronic hepatitis patients with healthy subjects and those with acute viral hepatitis.
• To explore the relationship between systemic endotoxemia, viral replication, and clinical manifestations in chronic hepatitis B.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test to quantify systemic endotoxemia.
• Included healthy individuals, patients with acute viral hepatitis B and C, and patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C in the study cohorts.

Main Results:

• Healthy subjects exhibited a 31.3% incidence of "physiological" systemic endotoxemia.
• Patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C showed a significantly higher incidence of systemic endotoxemia, ranging from 69% to 84%.
• Systemic endotoxemia was notably more severe in patients with chronic hepatitis compared to healthy controls and those with acute hepatitis. A significant correlation was observed between systemic endotoxemia, viral replication, and clinical/laboratory signs in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Conclusions:

• Chronic viral hepatitis B and C are associated with a high prevalence and increased severity of systemic endotoxemia.
• Systemic endotoxemia is a relevant biomarker in chronic hepatitis B, correlating with viral activity and disease progression.