[Controversies in the determination of serum albumin concentration in chronic liver diseases].
OBJECTIVE
It is known that there is quantitative alteration in serum albumin in the patients with chronic liver diseases. To clarity the quantitative alteration of serum albumin, serum albumin levels were measured by the Bromcresol green (BCG) method, the modified Bromcresol purple (BCP) method and immunoassay.


METHODS
We enrolled 313 patients with chronic hepatitis, 74 cirrhotic patients and 36 healthy subjects. Serum albumin levels were measured by immunoassay, the BCG method and the modified BCP methods.


RESULTS
The measurement of immunoassay showed a significant correlation in the measurement of the modified BCP method in the patients with chronic liver diseases. With the progress of chronic liver diseases, the serum albumin levels by the BCG method and electrophoresis were higher than the levels by the modified BCP method. In other hands, it was 0.07 g/dl higher level in chronic hepatitis and 0.18 g/dl higher in liver cirrhosis. And the serum albumin levels by the BCG method and electrophoresis were higher than the levels by the new BCP method in the patients with leg edema and ascites. In the malnourished patients Subjective global assessment (SGA-B), the serum albumin levels by the BCG method and electrophoresis were higher than the levels by the modified BCP method.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum albumin levels were different by the method for measurements. The clinical implications of quantitative changes in albumin should be investigated in consideration of the microheterogeneity of albumin. The modified BCP method is superior method to evaluate the serum albumin levels.
Uchida
Yukie
Y
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Koshigaya 343-8555.
Okuzumi
Yuji
Y
Fujishiro
Masahiro
M
Kawamura
Kenya
K
Shibasaki
Mitsuei
M
Shimetani
Naoto
N
Suzuki
Kazutomo
K
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D001961:Bromcresol Green; D001962:Bromcresol Purple; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004586:Electrophoresis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012709:Serum Albumin; D001962:Bromcresol Purple; D001961:Bromcresol Green