title: Serum pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein levels in the evolution of hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Serum pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) levels were evaluated in a follow-up study of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and compared with biochemical and virological parameters. In a study of 25 patients with acute hepatitis, an association was found between high alpha 2-PAG values, ALT levels, and HBsAg in 20 patients (80%) (P less than 0.05), 18 recovered completely, and 2 had a protracted course. In five patients serum alpha 2-PAG levels were similar to those in the control group. On the other hand, eight (100%) chronic persistent HBV patients showed high levels of alpha 2-PAG (P less than 0.05) during the study period, and these levels correlated well with inflammatory activity and failure of HBsAg elimination. There were no significant differences in alpha 2-PAG values between asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and controls. Serial analysis of alpha 2-PAG, in correlation with viral markers, biochemical parameters, and histological data, would contribute to the ability to predict the final outcome of HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zarzur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aldao
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sileoni
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vides
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins