Biomaterial Database

Comparative study of urinary excretion rates of para-hydroxy-mandelic acid, homovanillic acid, vanylmandelic acid in cirrhotic patients with and without encephalopathy. 1977

F Zoghbi, and J Emerit, and J Fermanian, and O Bousquet, and J C Legrand

A comparative study of urinary excretion of octopamine, dopamine, and noradrenaline catabolic products, respectively parahydroxymandelic acid (PHMA) homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanylmandelic acid (VMA) was carried out in 27 cirrhotic patients with (11) and without (16) porto-systemic encephalopathy (P.S.E). PHMA, HVA and VMA were significantly higher in patients with PSE, and there was a positive correlation between PHMA and HVA, and between PHMA and VMA. Higher excretion of PHMA in patients with PSE strongly suggests an increased metabolism of octopamine. HVA and VMA increased excretion, and the positive correlations could be explained by the depletion of stored dopamine and noradrenaline. These observations support the hypothesis that octopamine acts as a false neurotransmitter, and the resulting depletion of dopamine and noradrenaline could explain the neuropsychic phenomena of PSE, and the awakening effect of L. Dopa treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008103	Liver Cirrhosis	Liver disease in which the normal microcirculation, the gross vascular anatomy, and the hepatic architecture have been variably destroyed and altered with fibrous septa surrounding regenerated or regenerating parenchymal nodules.	Cirrhosis, Liver,Fibrosis, Liver,Hepatic Cirrhosis,Liver Fibrosis,Cirrhosis, Hepatic
D008297	Male		Males
D008333	Mandelic Acids	Analogs or derivatives of mandelic acid (alpha-hydroxybenzeneacetic acid).	Acids, Mandelic
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010648	Phenylacetates	Derivatives of phenylacetic acid. Included under this heading are a variety of acid forms, salts, esters, and amides that contain the benzeneacetic acid structure. Note that this class of compounds should not be confused with derivatives of phenyl acetate, which contain the PHENOL ester of ACETIC ACID.	Benzeneacetates,Benzeneacetic Acids,Phenylacetic Acids,Acids, Benzeneacetic,Acids, Phenylacetic
D005260	Female		Females
D006501	Hepatic Encephalopathy	A syndrome characterized by central nervous system dysfunction in association with LIVER FAILURE, including portal-systemic shunts. Clinical features include lethargy and CONFUSION (frequently progressing to COMA); ASTERIXIS; NYSTAGMUS, PATHOLOGIC; brisk oculovestibular reflexes; decorticate and decerebrate posturing; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes (see REFLEX, BABINSKI). ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY may demonstrate triphasic waves. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1117-20; Plum & Posner, Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma, 3rd ed, p222-5)	Encephalopathy, Hepatic,Portosystemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathy, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathy, Portosystemic,Fulminant Hepatic Failure with Cerebral Edema,Hepatic Coma,Hepatic Stupor,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathy,Coma, Hepatic,Comas, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathies, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathies, Portosystemic,Encephalopathy, Portal Systemic,Hepatic Comas,Hepatic Encephalopathies,Hepatic Stupors,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathies,Portal Systemic Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathies,Portosystemic Encephalopathies,Stupor, Hepatic,Stupors, Hepatic
D006719	Homovanillic Acid	A 3-O-methyl ETHER of (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid.	3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid,4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenylacetic Acid,3 Methoxy 4 Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid,4 Hydroxy 3 Methoxyphenylacetic Acid,Acid, 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylacetic,Acid, 4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenylacetic,Acid, Homovanillic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006880	Hydroxy Acids	Organic compounds containing both the hydroxyl and carboxyl radicals.	Hydroxy Acid,Acid, Hydroxy,Acids, Hydroxy