Oxidative stress and thyroid hormones in patients with liver diseases

BackgroundThe liver metabolizes the thyroid hormones and regulates their systemic endocrine effects so liver disease could affect thyroid hormone metabolism. Oxidative stress could play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of liver diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate serum levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant in liver diseases as prognostic markers and know the importance of these antioxidants level in relation to thyroid hormones.MethodsSerum nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), apolipoprotein-1 (APOA1) levels and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were determined in 20 control subjects, 13 patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 18 patients with chronic HCV, 17 patients with compensated cirrhotic HCV and 42 patients with decompensated cirrhotic HCV.ResultsCirrhotic patients with HCV had higher NO and MDA levels while lower T3 and erythrocyte GSH levels, and GSHPx activity than the chronic. Serum T3 showed negative correlation with serum NO and MDA whereas positive correlation with APOA1, GSH, and GSHPx in cirrhotic patients with HCV.ConclusionThe measurement of the total T3, NO, MDA, GSH reduced and GSHPx as biomarkers for liver diseases might be a beneficial tool, helping in monitoring the state of liver disease patients.