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Transferrin metabolism in alcoholic liver disease
Author(s) -
Potter Barry J.,
Chapman Roger W. G.,
Nunes Rosa M.,
Sorrentino Dario,
Sherlock Sheila
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840050503
Subject(s) - transferrin , medicine , alcoholic liver disease , cirrhosis , fatty liver , endocrinology , alcoholic hepatitis , alcoholic fatty liver , metabolism , liver disease , chemistry , disease
The metabolism of transferrin was studied using purified 125 I‐labeled transferrin in 11 alcoholic patients; six with fatty liver and five with cirrhosis. Six healthy subjects whose alcohol intake was les than 40 gm daily were studied as a control group. There were no significant differences in the mean fractional catabolic rate and plasma volume in the alcoholic groups when compared with control subjects. A significantly decreased mean serum transferrin concentration was found in the alcoholic cirrhotic patients (1.8 ± 0.3 gm per liter vs. 2.9 ± 0.2; p < 0.01), resulting from diminished total body synthesis (0.9 ± 0.2 mg per kg per hr vs. 1.8 ± 0.2; p < 0.01). In contrast, in the patients with alcoholic fatty liver, the mean total body transferrin synthesis (2.4 ± 0.3 mg per kg per hr) was significantly increased when compared with controls (p < 0.05). For all the alcoholic patients, the serum transferrin correlated with transferrin synthesis (r = +0.70; p < 0.01) but the serum iron did not. These results suggest that, in alcoholic cirrhosis, transferrin synthesis is decreased, probably reflecting diminished synthetic capacity by the liver. In contrast, in patients with alcoholic fatty liver, transferrin turnover is accelerated.