The changes of liver CD44 expression, content of serum hyaluronic acid and functional liver plasma flow in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension

Objective: To evaluate the function of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell by investigating changes of functional hepatic blood flow (FLPF) in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (LCPH). Methods: We recruited 50 LCPH patients and 10 liver cyst patients without cirrhosis who underwent operation in the same period. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to examine the expression of CD44. The content of serum hyaluronic acid was examined by radioimmunoassay and FLPF was determined by modified hepatic clearance of D-sorbitol. Results: Circled digit one In control group the expression of CD44 decreased and the positive staining area was (3.49±0.38) μm², while in LCPH group the expression of CD44 increased and the positive staining area was (41.38±11.88) μm ². Circled digit two The content of serum hyalurouic acid was increased in LCPH group [(116.11±20.12) μg/L] as compared with that in control group [(48.15±14.39) μg/L]. Circled digit three FLPF evaluated by means of D-sorbitol clearance was reduced in LCPH group [(770.33±48.53) mL/min] compared to that in control group [(1261.22±65.79) mL/min]. Conclusion: The decrease of FLPF in LCPH patients is closely related to the change of the function of hepatic sinusoid endothelial cell.