Increase of serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein despite the decline of liver synthetic function in cirrhotics with hepatocellular carcinoma.
alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein, an acute phase reactant synthesised by the liver, has been reported to be increased in neoplastic conditions and reduced in chronic liver disease. We measured serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein by a nephelometric method in 186 subjects (112 males, 74 females): 55 had mild chronic liver disease (chronic hepatitis and steatofibrosis), 45 cirrhosis, 38 hepatocellular carcinoma, 15 extra-hepatic malignant disease; 33 healthy subjects were used as controls. Analysis of variance demonstrated a significant variability among groups (F = 17.08, P = 0.0000). Higher concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were detected in malignant extra-hepatic disease than in all other groups (P < 0.01); concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein were higher in hepatocellular carcinoma than in cirrhosis (P < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis by groups (dependent variable = alpha 1-acid glycoprotein; group 1 = mild chronic liver disease + cirrhosis; group 2 = hepatocellular carcinoma) showed a significant correlation for both group 1 (r = 0.6264, F = 8.005, P = 0.0000) and group 2 (r = 0.8947, F = 13.643, P = 0.0000). The significant standardised regression coefficients were: cholinesterase, C-reactive protein, gamma-glutamyltransferase and iron (negative) for regression upon group 1; C-reactive protein, alpha 1-antiproteinase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, iron (negative) for regression upon group 2. A difference between the 2 regression equation coefficients was detected (F = 5.209, P = 0.0002).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Falleti
E
E
Cattedra di Patologia Clinica, Università degli Studi, Udine, Italia.
Pirisi
M
M
Fabris
C
C
Bortolotti
N
N
Soardo
G
G
Toniutto
P
P
Gonano
F
F
Bartoli
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D009961:Orosomucoid; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D007501:Iron; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase