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S Kawasato

Publications and source records attributed to S Kawasato.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical application of the measurement of serum asialoglycoproteins to estimate residual liver function in patients with chronic liver diseases with or without hepatocellular carcinoma.

The correlation between the amount of asialoglycoproteins and results of conventional liver function tests was studied in patients with chronic liver diseases, with or without hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective was to determine the clinical significance of the measurement of levels of serum asialoglycoproteins. The levels were elevated in accordance with the progress of liver diseases, and correlated with the decrease in albumin content, cholinesterase activity, the ratio of esterified cholesterol to total cholesterol and to the increase of indocyanine green retention at 15 min (p less than 0.001). There was no correlation with values of glutamic oxaloacetic and pyruvic transaminases. The amount of serum asialoglycoproteins also correlated with survival time in fatal cases of cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Bilirubin and bile acids did not interfere with the measurement of serum asialoglycoproteins in cases of hyperbilirubinemia. Serum asialoglycoprotein levels are a good indicator of hepatic functional reserve in patients with chronic liver diseases, with or without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Asialoglycoproteins

Decrease of a hepatic binding protein specific for asialoglycoproteins with accumulation of serum asialoglycoproteins in galactosamine-treated rats.

Acute liver injury was induced experimentally in rats by a single injection of a large amount of D-galactosamine. Hepatocellular damage was apparent from decrease of total serum proteins, marked release of transaminases into the circulation, precipitous decrease of total microsomal proteins, and intracellular enzymes such as cytochrome P450 and 5'-nucleotidase. In parallel with such hepatocellular damage, serum asialoglycoproteins accumulated markedly, reaching a maximum level 4 days after the injection and then decreased to the control level. In contrast to this increase, hepatic binding protein, a receptor in the liver which specifically recognizes asialoglycoproteins, decreased very much. At the same time, survival time of [125I]asialoorosomucoid intravenously administered into rats was much prolonged in inverse proportion to the decrease of the binding protein. From these results it was concluded that the decrease of the hepatic binding protein induced by galactosamine treatment is probably responsible for the marked accumulation of serum asialoglycoproteins.

Animals