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Albumin-binding function is reduced in patients
with decompensated cirrhosis and correlates inversely with severity of
liver disease assessed by model for end-stage liver disease.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2007 Mar;19(3):257-63.
Klammt S, Mitzner S, Stange J, Brinkmann B, Drewelow B, Emmrich J, Liebe S, Schmidt R.
Divisions
of aNephrology bGastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine,
University Rostock cInstitute of Clinical Pharmacology, Center of
Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
BACKGROUND:
Human serum albumin has multiple functions, the most important being
maintaining colloid osmotic pressure, ligand binding and transport. In
liver failure, an impaired binding of endogenous substances and drugs
can be observed.
The aim of this study was to investigate the
relationship between the severity of liver disease and an impaired
albumin binding. METHODS: In 44 patients with decompensated liver
cirrhosis, Child-Turcotte-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease
scores were assessed and the site II-specific albumin-binding function
(albumin-binding capacity) was characterized. Briefly, the unbound
amount of diazepam site ligand Dansylsarcosine in a sample was
determined and compared with the unbound amount in a reference albumin
solution (=100%). RESULTS: Thirty-two out of 44 of the patients
presented with Child-Turcotte-Pugh class C, the median
Child-Turcotte-Pugh score was 10 [6-13 (min-max)], median model for
end-stage liver disease score was 21 (8-40) and the median
albumin-binding capacity was 63 (24-91)% compared with healthy controls
98 (95-106)% (P<0.001). Albumin-binding capacity was found to be
strongly correlated to model for end-stage liver disease (r=0.783;
P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An impaired albumin-binding function of a
site II-specific marker in decompensated liver cirrhosis was found to
be correlated to the severity of the liver disease.
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