In cirrhotic patients without renal failure, salt retention could result
from a decreased effective intravascular volume or could be a primary
event leading to increased intravascular volume. Clearance of urea and
uric acid depends on effective intravascular volume. This study was conducted
on 25 patients with chronic hepatitis and 25 control subjects. The
diagnosis of chronic hepatitis was confirmed by liver needle biopsy and
elevated hepatic uansaminases. Exclusion of associated illnesses that
affect urea and uric acid clearance or sodium excretion was emphasized.
The result showed significant increase in the fractional excretion of uric
acid in patients with chronic hepatitis as compared to the control group.
This could be explained by selective tubulopatbhy for urea and uric acid
by increased serum bilirubin, or increased effective vascular volume.
Also, creatinine clearance in chronic hepatitis patients is lower than of
control in spite of normal serum creatinine in chronic hepatitis patients
and in the controls. This could be due to toxic glomerulopathy associated
with chronic hepatitis. Also, we found normal serum uric acid in
chronic hepatitis and in controls despite the increase in fractional excretion
of uric acid in chronic hepatitis. |
