[Circulating endothelial cells--markers of blood vessel lesions in patients with diffuse liver disease]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Vascular Biology
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• Endothelial cells form the inner lining of blood vessels and play a crucial role in vascular health.
• Damage to the endothelium, known as endothelial trauma, can lead to the release of endothelial cells into circulation.
• Elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are associated with various pathological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between circulating endothelial cell (CEC) levels and the severity of liver injury in patients with viral hepatitis.
• To evaluate the potential of CEC as a biomarker for detecting liver microvessel lesions in diffuse liver diseases.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were collected from 67 adult and pediatric patients diagnosed with acute or chronic viral hepatitis (A and B).
• A control group of healthy volunteers was included for comparison.
• Circulating endothelial cell (CEC) levels were quantified in blood samples (cells x 10^4/L).

Main Results:

• Patients with viral hepatitis exhibited significantly higher CEC levels compared to healthy controls.
• Elevated CEC counts were observed in both acute and chronic viral hepatitis groups (17.4+/-6.5 and 19.8+/-8.4 cells x 10^4/L, respectively).
• Control groups showed considerably lower CEC levels (3.8+/-1.9 and 3.8+/-1.2 cells x 10^4/L).

Conclusions:

• Increased circulating endothelial cell (CEC) levels are directly dependent on the degree of endothelial trauma.
• CEC can serve as a practical and reliable marker for assessing liver microvessel lesions in patients with diffuse liver diseases.
• Endotheliocytemia is a significant factor in endothelial trauma during the pathogenesis of diffuse liver disease.