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Vitamin B 12 Binding Proteins in Liver Disease
Author(s) -
Retief F. P.,
Vandenplas L.,
Visser H.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1969.tb00398.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vitamin d binding protein , cirrhosis , vitamin , endocrinology , liver disease , albumin , chronic liver disease , globulin
Summary: Vitamin B 12 binding proteins were studied in patients with acute and chronic liver disease, and compared with vitamin B 12 binders in chronic myeloid leukemia. In acute viral hepatitis marked elevation of serum vitamin B 12 was common. Although the serum vitamin B 12 rose as high as that found in chronic myeloid leukaemia the unsaturated vitamin B 12 binding capacity (UBBC) was markedly elevated in the latter condition, whereas it was decreased in acute liver disease. In cirrhosis a moderate increase of serum vitamin B 12 and UBBC was common. Urinary vitamin B 12 excretion increased significantly only when the serum vitamin B 12 became markedly elevated in hepatitis. As in chronic myeloid leukaemia the alpha‐globulin vitamin B 12 ‐binder carried the bulk of the elevated serum vitamin B 12 in acute liver disease; the beta‐globulin vitamin B 12 ‐binder was decreased in serum but seemed to be the predominant binder in urine. This suggests that renal loss of beta‐globulin binder is greater than renal loss of alpha‐globulin binder. Only minor albumin binding of vitamin B 12 in liver disease was found in spite of marked elevation of the serum vitamin B 12 level. In cirrhosis the serum alpha‐globulin binder was often increased and beta‐globulin binder decreased. The cause and significance of these findings are discussed. The ability of serum vitamin B 12 ‐binders of liver disease to ‘transfer’ 57 Co‐B 12 to tissue was investigated in an in vitro rat liver homogenate system. In a limited study, vitamin B 12 uptake appeared to be within normal limits, except for suboptimal uptake from the beta‐globulin binder in cirrhotic serum. Poor vitamin B 12 uptake from chronic myeloid leukaemia serum (in particular alpha‐globulin binder) was confirmed.