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Impaired release of vitamin a from liver in primary biliary cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Nyberg Anders,
Berne Berit,
Nordlinder Hans,
Busch Christer,
Eriksson Ulf,
Lööf Lars,
Vahlquist Anders
Publication year - 1988
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.1840080126
Subject(s) - primary biliary cirrhosis , medicine , gastroenterology , biliary cirrhosis , cirrhosis , hepatology , chemistry , disease , autoimmune disease
Abstract In 44 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis serum levels of vitamin A, retinol‐binding protein and transthyretin (prealbumin) were found to be significantly lower than in 25 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. Liver biopsies were available for chemical analyses in 28 of the patients. Their mean liver vitamin A concentration (2.8 ± 2.0 μmoles per gm wet weight) did not differ significantly from that in 22 cases of sudden death which served as controls (2.0 ± 1.5 μmoles per gm wet weight). Immunohistochemical investigation showed a normal distribution of serum retinol‐binding protein in the patients' livers, whereas the staining pattern of cellular retinol‐binding protein, believed to be involved in the intrahepatic transport of vitamin A, was abnormal. Thus, the number size and cellular retinol‐binding protein staining intensity of fat‐storing (Ito) cells were clearly higher in the patients as compared with controls. The results suggest that the low serum vitamin A levels in primary biliary cirrhosis are not a consequence of vitamin A deficiency but instead reflect a defective mobilization of vitamin A from the liver.