Rudić JS, Ćulafić ĐM, Mirković DS, Ješić RS, Krstić MN. Role of serotonin in development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(48): 6135-6138 [PMID: 21182230 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i48.6135]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jelena S Rudić, MD, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Koste Todorovića Street, No 2, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. jelena_rudic@yahoo.com
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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2010; 16(48): 6135-6138 Published online Dec 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i48.6135
Role of serotonin in development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices
Jelena S Rudić, Đorđe M Ćulafić, Duško S Mirković, Rada S Ješić, Miodrag N Krstić
Jelena S Rudić, Đorđe M Ćulafić, Rada S Ješić, Miodrag N Krstić, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Koste Todorovića Street, No 2, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Duško S Mirković, Centre of Medical Biochemistry, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Pasterova No 2, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia
Author contributions: Rudić JS and Ćulafić ĐM contributed equally to this work; Rudić JS, Ćulafić ĐM, Mirković DS, Ješić RS and Krstić MN designed the research; Rudić JS, Ćulafić ĐM and Mirković DS performed the research; Rudić JS, Ćulafić ĐM and Mirković DS contributed the new reagents/analytic tools; Rudić JS, Ćulafić ĐM, Mirković DS, Ješić RS and Krstić MN analyzed the data; Rudić JS and Ćulafić ĐM wrote the paper.
Supported by The Ministry for Science, Technology and Development of Republic of Serbia, No. 14501B
Correspondence to: Jelena S Rudić, MD, Clinic of Gastroenterology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr. Koste Todorovića Street, No 2, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. jelena_rudic@yahoo.com
Telephone: +381-11-3663733 Fax: +381-11-3615587
Received: April 9, 2010 Revised: September 7, 2010 Accepted: September 14, 2010 Published online: December 28, 2010
Abstract
AIM: To determine the effect of free serotonin concentrations in plasma on development of esophageal and gastric fundal varices.
METHODS: This prospective study included 33 patients with liver cirrhosis and 24 healthy controls. Ultrasonography and measurement of serotonin concentration in plasma were carried out in both groups of subjects. The upper fiber panendoscopy was performed only in patients with liver cirrhosis.
RESULTS: The mean plasma free serotonin levels were much higher in liver cirrhosis patients than in healthy controls (219.0 ± 24.2 nmol/L vs 65.4 ± 18.7 nmol/L, P < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between serotonin concentration in plasma and the size of the esophageal varices according to Spearman coefficient of correlation (rs = -0.217, P > 0.05). However, the correlation of plasma serotonin concentration and gastric fundal varices was highly significant (rs = -0.601, P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION: Free serotonin is significant in pathogenesis of portal hypertension especially in development of fundal varices, indicating the clinical value of serotonergic receptor blockers in these patients.
