Content of hepatic reduced glutathione in chronic alcoholic patients: Influence of the length of abstinence and liver necrosis

Abstract

1. The relationship between the content of hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) and the length of abstinence was investigated in 45 chronic alcoholic patients. 2. Hepatic GSH levels were significantly correlated (r=0.58; P<0.001) with the length of alcohol withdrawal in the whole group. According to liver histology patients were divided into two groups, with and without hepatic necrosis. Subjects without necrosis showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.71; P<0.001) between GSH values and the length of abstinence; no correlation (r=-0.22; P<0.40) was observed in the group with necrosis. 3. According to the period of abstinence patients were separated into two groups, with a short (≤5 days) and a prolonged (>5 days) alcohol withdrawal. Patients with and without necrosis exhibited comparable mean levels of liver GSH (2.04 ± SEM 0.21 and 1.74 ± 0.23 μmol/g respectively; P<0.30) when studied after short periods of abstinence. Alcoholics without liver necrosis showed significantly higher