A study on the mechanism of anemia and leukopenia in liver cirrhosis.

Abstract

To elucidate the mechanism of anemia and leukopenia in the patients with liver cirrhosis, we investigated hematopoietic progenitor cell contents in their bone marrow, and the effects of their sera and blood mononuclear cells on hematopoietic progenitors from normal subjects. While there was no significant difference in the number of marrow CFU-E and BFU-E between the patients with liver cirrhosis and normal subjects, the number of marrow CFU-C was significantly reduced in liver cirrhosis patients. Patients' sera suppressed in vitro colony formation of normal CFU-E, BFU-E, and CFU-C, and the degree of suppression was well correlated with severity of anemia or granulocytopenia. In vitro colony formation of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells was not affected by blood mononuclear cells from liver cirrhosis patients. These results indicate that the appearance of humoral inhibitor(s) of hematopoietic progenitors plays a role in the development of anemia and granulocytopenia in liver cirrhosis.

Lymphopenia in Patients with Single-ventricle Heart Disease after the Fontan Operation

“…Table 3 shows the results of catheterization and CBCD. At catheterization, the median cardiac index was mildly decreased at 2.9 L/min/m 2 (1.8-6.2) and median inferior vena cava (IVC) pressure was 13 mm Hg (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). The median ALC was 1.5 3 10 3 /lL (0.8-4.5).…”

Systemic abnormalities in liver disease

“…Although splenic sequestration of leukocytes due to hypersplenism or serum hematopoietic progenitor inhibitory factors has been thought to be the main mechanism causing leukocytopenia [70,71] , a shortened neutrophil lifespan caused by increased apoptosis may also be responsible [72] . Lymphocytopenia is also often found in patients with liver cirrhosis, possibly due to malnutrition [73] .…”

Alterations in the erythrocyte plasma membranes in patients with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis – preliminary results

“…In patients with liver cirrhosis life span of erythrocytes was shorter by about 50-60% with coexisting osmotic fragility alerations [1-3]. Anemia, often observed in patients with AILC, is not the result of marrow erythrocytary line abnormality [4] but is most probably caused by intensified oxidation of erythrocyte membrane in the course of free radical processes. Increased peroxidation and changes in plasma lipid composition in the liver of cirrhotic patients were observed [5-7], causing an increase in erythrocyte membrane fluidity, affecting cell metabolism [8-10].…”