Advanced cirrhosis is associated with reduced platelet function and altered renal function and sodium handling. Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites contribute to platelet aggregation and to maintain the response to diuretics in advanced cirrhosis. In the present study, we tested the effects of a dietary supplementation for 8 weeks with a triacylglycerol (triglyceride) enriched in AA (ARASCO®; 4 g/day) or oleic acid (OA) on plasma and membrane fatty acid composition, platelet aggregation and renal prostaglandin (PG) metabolism. At baseline, all patients had reduced platelet aggregation. Patients treated with AA showed a significant increase in the percentage of AA in plasma lipids and membrane phospholipids. These changes were associated with an increased platelet aggregation in response to collagen (from 55.83±20.63 to 67.67±14.44%; P<0.05). At baseline, all urinary AA metabolites, including PGE2, 6-keto-PGF1α, 8-epi-PGF2α and 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2, were elevated in cirrhotic patients when compared with a group of normal subjects. After furosemide treatment, urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 increased significantly. Supplementation with AA did not result in any significant change in urinary PG excretion either before or after diuretic administration. The results of the present study show that dietary supplementation with AA effectively increases the levels of this fatty acid in plasma and membrane phospholipids and improves platelet aggregation. These data suggest a possible novel approach to the treatment of the haemostatic defect observed in these patients.
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January 2004
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Research Article|
January 01 2004
Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid on platelet and renal function in patients with cirrhosis
Pietro PANTALEO;
Pietro PANTALEO
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Fabio MARRA;
Fabio MARRA
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Francesco VIZZUTTI;
Francesco VIZZUTTI
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Saura SPADONI;
Saura SPADONI
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Giovanni CIABATTONI;
Giovanni CIABATTONI
†Department of Drug Science, University of Chieti “G. D'Annunzio”, Via dei Vestini, 661000 Chieti, Italy
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Claudio GALLI;
Claudio GALLI
‡Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Giuseppe Balzaretti, 9 20133, Milan, Italy
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Giorgio LA VILLA;
Giorgio LA VILLA
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Paolo GENTILINI;
Paolo GENTILINI
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
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Giacomo LAFFI
*Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 85, I-50134 Florence, Italy
Correspondence: Dr Giacomo Laffi (e-mail [email protected]).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 19 2003
Revision Received:
July 11 2003
Accepted:
July 23 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
July 23 2003
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2004 The Biochemical Society
2004
Clin Sci (Lond) (2004) 106 (1): 27–34.
Article history
Received:
May 19 2003
Revision Received:
July 11 2003
Accepted:
July 23 2003
Accepted Manuscript online:
July 23 2003
Citation
Pietro PANTALEO, Fabio MARRA, Francesco VIZZUTTI, Saura SPADONI, Giovanni CIABATTONI, Claudio GALLI, Giorgio LA VILLA, Paolo GENTILINI, Giacomo LAFFI; Effects of dietary supplementation with arachidonic acid on platelet and renal function in patients with cirrhosis. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 January 2004; 106 (1): 27–34. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20030182
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