THE ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE AND FERRITIN IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE : A CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY Introduction Acute consumption of alcohol

Th e role of ferritin in fi brogenesis of liver parenchyma in patients with alcoholic liver disease has been investigated in previous studies. Ferritin was shown to be an indirect marker of ferum deposition in liver parenchyma in alcohol liver disease. Th e aim of the present study was to examine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease as well as the infl uence of NO on iron (ferritin) metabolism in patients with alcoholic liver disease. Serum concentrations of NO and iron markers (iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin) were measured in  male patients (aged – years) with alcoholic liver disease, as well as from a control group ( male patients (aged – years) without liver disease). NO concentration was detected by measuring production of nitrates and nitrites using classical colorimetric Griess reactions. Th ere was a statistically signifi cant increase in serum NO concentration in patients with alcoholic liver disease compared to the control group (mean ± SEM; , ± , vs. , ± , mmol/dm, respectively; p<,). Similarly, serum iron levels (, ± , vs. , ± , g/ cm, respectively; p<,) and serum total iron binding capacity (, ± , vs. , ± , μmol/dm, respectively; p<,) were also signifi cantly higher in patients with alcoholic liver disease compared to control patients. Th e serum concentration of ferritin was  higher in patients with alcoholic liver disease than in the control group; however this was not statistically signifi cant (, ± , vs. , ± , g, respectively; p<,). Th ere was no correlation between NO and ferritin in the investigated groups. Th ese results suggest a possible role of NO and iron in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. NO and iron may be used as non-invasive predictors of liver damage. Also the role of iron in sera, and its deposition in liver parenchyma, could be used in clinical practice, especially in regards to assessing the fi brogenesis of liver parenchyma induced by ferritin.