Assessment of Arginase Activity and Antioxidant Markers in Young Liver Cirrhosis Patients in Kirkuk City

Abstract

Cirrhosis is a condition resulting from chronic liver disease, marked by fibrosis (scar tissue) and nodules (regenerating liver tissue).↻ This study measures serum arginase activity and antioxidant marker parameters in cirrhosis patients in Kirkuk and compares them with healthy controls. The study included 180 people—120 patients and 60 apparently healthy controls—aged 26 to 50 years. Participants were drawn from Kirkuk Teaching Hospital, Azadi Teaching Hospital, and private clinics in Kirkuk, Iraq, between December 2025 and June 2026. Blood samples will be collected from patients and healthy controls, and biochemical parameters will be quantified using appropriate laboratory methods. To find significant difference between the two groups and to check the possible association of arginase activity with the investigated biomarkers, statistical analysis will be done. Serum arginase levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (99.88 ± 2.59 vs. 59.82 ± 3.38 ng/mL; P = 0.01). Lipid peroxidation was higher in patients than in controls as reflected by the significantly elevated serum MDA (104.36 ± 7.78 vs. 27.85 ± 1.76 nmol/mL; P = 0.01). Nitric oxide (NO) and thioredoxin (Trx) levels were also significantly increased (97.04 ± 3.67 vs. 48.74 ± 2.61 µmol/L and 98.86 ± 1.10 vs. 49.89 ± 1.40 µmol/L, respectively; P = 0.01 for both). The results indicate significant biochemical changes in liver cirrhotic patients, particularly with the elevation of arginase, MDA, NO, and thioredoxin. The changes in these parameters indicate a link between cirrhosis, changes in liver function and oxidative stress.