Change in levels of specific terminal sugar residues of glycoproteins in sera of patients with complication of diabetes and liver injury

: The concentrations of specific terminal sugar residues of glycoproteins were determined in sera of patients with diabetes, liver injury or complication of both diseases. A significant increase in serum galactose (Gal) concentration was found in all patients. Serum N-acetylneuraminic acid-galactose (NANA-Gal) concentration was significantly decreased in patients with complication of diabetes and liver injury, whereas a high concentration of serum N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) was observed only in diabetic patients. Thus the determination of serum Gal and NANA-Gal should be added to one of clinical tests to provide new information on the pathological conditions of diabetes and liver injury.