[Changes in the level of free fatty acids in patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis].

The study covered 25 patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis mean age of 48 years 25 patients with alcoholic liver steatosis (mean age of 49 years), and 41 clinically healthy persons - controls (mean age of 42 years). Plasma levels of individual free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in any case. There was a statistically significant decrease of palmitinc, stearinic, oleinic, linolic and arachidonic acid and of total FFA in the patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH) as compared with the controls (p less than 0.001). Similar changes were found in patients with liver steatosis but they were slightlier expressed. In AAH patients serious disorders of FFA metabolism set in which are manifested mainly by total FFA level reduction that is on the account of the polyunsaturated fatty acids combined with significant increase of the saturated ones.