TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnostic value of serum cholylglycine radioimmunoassay in chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers
AU - De Franchis, Roberto
AU - Vecchi, Maurizio
AU - Primignani, Massimo
AU - Bonato, Claudio
AU - Parravicini, Anna
AU - Cambieri, Rita
AU - Ciaci, Danilo
AU - Annoni, Giorgio
PY - 1983/7
Y1 - 1983/7
N2 - The correlation between histological liver abnormalities and fasting serum cholylglycine levels was investigated in 75 chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers with normal conventional liver tests, to clarify whether serum CG radioimmunoassay could help in distinguishing the carriers with histological liver damage from those with normal histological findings. Mean (±SEM) fasting serum CG levels were 11.6±1.5 μg/dl in 56 carriers with normal liver histology, 14.6±4.2 μg/dl in 16 subjects with CPH and 95.6±54 μg/dl in three carriers with CAH. The incidence of abnormal values (>40 μg/dl) among carriers with CAH (66%) was significantly higher than in the other two groups (1.8 and 12.5%, respectively). It is concluded that, among chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers with normal conventional liver tests, those who show abnormal serum CG levels are likely to have severe histological damage. This justifies the inclusion of CG radioimmunoassay in the routine follow-up of these subjects. The occurrence of false-positive and false-negative results must be considered if the test is used as an aid in the selection of patients for liver biopsy.
AB - The correlation between histological liver abnormalities and fasting serum cholylglycine levels was investigated in 75 chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers with normal conventional liver tests, to clarify whether serum CG radioimmunoassay could help in distinguishing the carriers with histological liver damage from those with normal histological findings. Mean (±SEM) fasting serum CG levels were 11.6±1.5 μg/dl in 56 carriers with normal liver histology, 14.6±4.2 μg/dl in 16 subjects with CPH and 95.6±54 μg/dl in three carriers with CAH. The incidence of abnormal values (>40 μg/dl) among carriers with CAH (66%) was significantly higher than in the other two groups (1.8 and 12.5%, respectively). It is concluded that, among chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers with normal conventional liver tests, those who show abnormal serum CG levels are likely to have severe histological damage. This justifies the inclusion of CG radioimmunoassay in the routine follow-up of these subjects. The occurrence of false-positive and false-negative results must be considered if the test is used as an aid in the selection of patients for liver biopsy.
KW - Asymptomatic carriers
KW - Chronic hepatitis
KW - Hepatitis B surface antigen
KW - Liver biopsy
KW - Serum cholylglycine radioimmunoassay
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U2 - 10.1007/BF02905873
DO - 10.1007/BF02905873
M3 - Article
C2 - 6648236
AN - SCOPUS:0020784378
VL - 13
SP - 301
EP - 305
JO - Ricerca in Clinica e in Laboratorio
JF - Ricerca in Clinica e in Laboratorio
SN - 0940-5437
IS - 3
ER -