In non-3 genotype HCV carries, IR, and not steatosis, is associated with modifications in serum levels of oxidative stress.

Cirrhotic patients (23 with alcoholic cirrhosis, 5 with posthepatitic cirrhosis and 2 with cryptogenic cirrhosis) with ascites and portal hypertension were studied and divided into two groups corresponding to high or low risk to develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) related to the concentration of total protein in the ascitic fluid (A-TP): group I (high risk): A-TP≤1.5 g/dl and group II (low risk): A-TP>1.5 g/dl. Fibronectin (FN), C3 and C4 concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion while total protein was measured by the biuret method. The mean values (group I vs group II) of C3 (12.59 ± 4.72 vs 24.53 ± 15.58 mg/dl), C4 (4.26 ± 3.87 vs 7.26 ± 4.14 mg/dl) and FN (50.47 ± 12.49 vs 75.89 ± 24.70 mg/dl) in the ascitic fluid were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the group considered to be at high risk for SBP. No significant difference was observed in the plasma/ascites fibronectin ratio (3.91 ± 1.21 vs 3.80 ± 1.26) or gradient (131.46 ± 64.01 vs 196.96 ± 57.38) between groups. Fibronectin in ascites was significantly correlated to C3 (r = 0.76), C4 (r = 0.58), total protein (r = 0.73) and plasma FN (r = 0.58) (P<0.05). The data suggest that the FN concentration in ascites is related to the opsonic capacity of this fluid, and that its concentration in the ascitic fluid may be a biochemical risk factor indicator for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Serum laminin level was measured in chronic hepatic schistosomiasis. A significant increase in the mean serum laminin levels was observed in patients with hepatosplenic (HS) schistosomiasis (2.57 +/- 0.83 U/ml), as compared to those in patients with the hepatointestinal (HI) form of the disease (1.38 +/- 0.45-U/ml) and in the control group (1.15 +/- 0.31 U/ml). In the HS patients there was a significant direct relation between serum laminin and percutaneous splenic pulp pressure (r = 0.68). These findings are compatible with an increased production of laminin in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis with may be related to the observed enlarged liver and spleen basement membranes in such disease.