Prolonged alcohol abuse as a chronic disease may increase inflammation and lead to hepatic disorders. Liver fibrosis results from chronic damage to the liver in conjunction with the accumulation of ECM proteins, which is characteristic of most types of chronic liver diseases. The main cause of liver fibrosis include alcohol abuse. The pathological features of hepatic cirrhosis induced by ethanol and other factors are similar. Monocyte chemotactic protein - 1 (MCP-1) is a protein related to inflammation and fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to assess of MCP-1in serum of alcohol dependent women.

Study group consisted of 40 inpatients treated in Inpatients Clinic in Toruń. Mean age of females in the study group was 43+/-7 yrs, duration of alcohol dependence 8+/-6 yrs. Control group consisted of 35 healthy women. Monocyte chemotactic protein - 1 (MCP-1) in the serum was determined by ELISA, serum AST and ALT on automatic analyzer.

Average serum AST was 32,88+/-32,95, ALT 29,76+/-24,48 (U/l). The concentration of MCP-1 was significantly higher in alcohol-dependent female group compared to healthy subjects (360,34ng/ml +/-273,95 vs 240,27ng/ml+/-178,31; p=0,030).

These results imply that prolonged alcohol abuse leads to increased concentrations of MCP-1 and may in consequence have impact on the pro-inflammatory state related to increased risk of liver fibrosis. Our results suggests that prolonged alcohol abuseas as chronic disease can be a factor of inflammation and lead to hepatic disorders.