The serum protein profile in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer

Using the single radial immunodiffusion method, the serum levels of IgG, IgA, Ig M, transferrin, haptoglobin, alpha2-macroglobulin, alpha1-antitrypsin and alpha1-acid glycoprotein were estimated in healthy subjects and patients with liver diseases consisting of chronic active and inactive hepatitis, incipient cirrhosis, cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The results obtained from the statistical analysis of the data were as follows: i) Immunoglobulins and alpha2-macroglobulin in all diseases were higher than those of healthy subjects. ii) The increased transferrin levels were found in chronic active and inactive hepatitis, and the increased alpha1-antitrypsin levels were observed in chronic inactive hepatitis, in incipient cirrhosis in cirrhosis and in primary liver cancer was higher than those of the other liver diseases. iii) Haptoglobulin levels in all diseases except for chronic inactive hepatitis were decreased. iv) alpha1-acid glycoprotein in chronic active hepatitis, in incipient cirrhosis and in cirrhosis were lower than that of healthy subjects. The evaluation of significance for difference of each protein level among disease groups clarified that the decrease of haptoglobin in cirrhosis and the increase of alpha1-antitrypsin in primary liver cancer were characteristic change respectively.