THE DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF RAPID TURNOVER SERUM PRONEINS IN PREDICTION OF SEVERE FORM OF ACUTE HEPATITIS

Abstract

Diagnostic significance of the changes in serum prealbumin, serum α₂-heat stable (HS) glycoprotein and hepaplastin test, which are rapid turnover serum proteins mainly synthesized in the liver, in predicting the development of severe form of acute hepatitis was investigated. α--HS glycoprotein showed significantly low levels in the cases with massive or submassive hepatic cell necrosis. And changes in hepaplastin test value correlated with the extent of hepatic cell necrosis. Consequently, development of massive or submassive hepatic cell necrosis was highly predictable from prominent decreases in both of α₂-HS glycoprotein and hepaplastin test value and zonal necrosis could be predictive from moderate decrease of both proteins in the early phase of the diseases. Since prealbumin levels were abnormally low in almost cases of acute hepatitis, differentiation of severe form of hepatitis was impossible by prealbumin level.