Serum prealbumin concentrations in acute and chronic liver diseases

To study prealbumin levels in acute and chronic liver diseases, blood samples were extracted from 58 patients with liver diseases. They were divided into 4 groups: group I consisted of 13 patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis; group II consisted of 15 patients with compensated bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly; group III consisted of 15 patients with decompensated bilharzial liver fibrosis and group IV consisted of 15 patients suffering from non bilharzial chronic hepatitis. Another 15 healthy subjects were selected and served as a reference group. Beside prealbumin, biochemical liver function tests were done for all subjects. A significant decrease in prealbumin was observed in all patient groups when compared to the reference group [P<0.001]. Within the patient groups, a significant decrease in prealbumin levels was noticed in groups I, III and IV when compared to group II. Serum total protein did not show any significant difference between the studied groups and the reference group, while serum albumin was significantly decreased only in groups II; III and IV. There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of prealbumin and albumin and a significant negative correlation between the levels of prealbumin and total bilirubin, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase