Picolinic Acid in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: A Preliminary Report
Figure 1
(a) Tryptophan (TRP) serum concentrations in 85 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC), according to child’s stage of cirrhosis, and in a control group of 40 healthy blood donors. values are given in the table. Comparisons between subgroups are illustrated with box plot graphics, where the dotted line indicates the median per group, the box represents 50% of the values, and horizontal lines show minimum and maximum values of the calculated nonoutlier values; asterisks and open circles indicate outlier values. (b) Kynurenine (KYN) serum concentrations decrease with the stage of liver cirrhosis in patients with CHC. However, in patients with Child-Pugh class A cirrhosis, the serum KYN was similar to those in healthy controls. values are given in the table. (c) Picolinic acid (PA) serum concentrations increase with the stage of liver cirrhosis in patients with CHC. values are given in the table.
