Microheterogeneity of Serum Glycoproteins in Alcoholics: Is Desialo‐transferrin the Marker of Chronic Alcohol Drinking or Alcoholic Liver Injury?

Abstract

The appearance of desialo‐transferrin (De‐TF) in serum has been reported to be a biochemical marker of chronic alcoholism. However, conclusive evidence of whether De‐TF is a marker for chronic alcohol drinking or for alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has not yet been obtained. Glycoproteins can be divided into two groups, a transferrin (TF) group and an al‐acid glycoprotein (Al‐AG) group, based on the characteristics of microheterogeneity (M‐HTG) of each protein. In the present study, the appearance of M‐HTG in serum TF and A1‐AG in alcohol drinkers was compared. In 96 patients with ALD, M‐HTG of TF was found in 66 patients (68.6%), and M‐HTG of A1‐AG was found in 61 patients (63.5%). In 20 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis, the detection rate of M‐HTG of A1‐AG was significantly higher than that of TF. In six patients with pancreatitis but not liver disease, M‐HTG of TF was not detected. In 14 alcoholics without liver or pancreas disease, M‐HTG of TF was not detected, whereas M‐HTG of A1‐AG was detected in 6 cases‐a significant difference. The amount of alcohol consumed was not different in patients with and without liver disease. In non‐ALD, M‐HTG of both proteins was detected only in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis. The detection rate of M‐HTG in TF was significantly higher than in A1 ‐ AG. These results suggest that M‐HTG of serum TF is a marker of ALD and that of serum A1‐AG is a marker of chronic alcohol drinking.