Glycoproteins in chronic liver disease

ABSTRACT

The levels of serum haptoglobin, haemopexin, alpha 1-antitrypsin [alpha 1-AT] and orosomucoid [alpha 1-acid glycoprotein] were examined in the sera of 95 patients with microscopically confirmed chronic liver disease of different types. Haptoglobin concentration was significantly reduced in bilharzial hepatic fibrosis [BHF], in chronic active hepatitis [CAH], in post necrotic cirrhosis and in cardiac cirrhosis, while it increased significantly in biliary cirrhosis. Haemopexin concentration was reduced significantly increase in biliary cirrhosis. Haemopexin concentration was reduced significant increase in biliary cirrhosis. Whereas, the mean value in other groups showed no differences. The serum level of alpha 1-AT showed a highly significant reduction in cardiac cirrhosis patients. Serum orosomucoid level showed significant reduction in both the BHF and post necrotic cirrhosis groups, whereas, biliary cirrhosis patients showed increasing tendency without significant difference. It is concluded that determination of different forms of glycoproteins in chronic liver disease may be a useful adjuvet in assessment of hepatic cell function and severity of the chronic liver disease