STORE-gastrointestinal functions and gastrointestinal hormones in patients with liver failure

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the gastrointestinal functions of patients with liver failure (LF) based on gastrointestinal dysfunction (GD) scores and serum gastrointestinal hormone levels.The GD in LF patients was scored using the gastrointestinal dysfunction scoring criteria. Serum gastrin (GAS), cholecystokinin (CCK), and motilin (MTL) levels were determined in LF patients. In addition, liver function and prothrombin activity were detected, and ultrasonography was performed.The GD score was significantly higher in the LF groups than in the control group. Compared with the control group, serum GAS, CCK, and MTL levels significantly increased in the LF groups, and was positively correlated with the severity of LF. Furthermore, in the LF groups, GD was positively correlated with the severity of LF. However, the GD score and serum GAS, CCK, and MTL levels in the acute LF group were not statistically different, when compared with those in the subacute LF group, acute-on-chronic LF group and chronic LF group.LF plays a key role in the development of GD, and may be the main cause of obvious gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal distension, nausea, vomiting and anorexia, in LF patients. The severity of GD is not associated with LF type, but is positively correlated with the severity of LF, suggesting that GD in LF patients may have complicated mechanisms.

Effectiveness and Safety Evaluation of Terlipressin in the Treatment of Dynamic Intestinal Obstruction in End-Stage Liver Disease

“…In such patients, inactivation of gastrointestinal hormones is reduced, portal hypertension leads to direct release of gastrointestinal hormones into the bloodstream, and hormone production is increased while excretion is decreased, resulting in elevated levels of gastrointestinal hormones. As gastrointestinal hormones underpin gastrointestinal motility, such elevated levels lead to a range of gastrointestinal dysfunction symptoms, including delayed gastric emptying, anorexia, abdominal distension, and constipation, increasing the susceptibility factors for intestinal obstruction 23 . 3) Portal vein thrombosis: after the formation of portal vein thrombosis, gastrointestinal blood stasis may occur with intestinal blood ow obstruction, leading to intestinal mucosal ischemia and gastrointestinal dysfunction.…”