Serum glycoproteins in the liver diseases. V. Desialylated glycoproteins in chronic hepatitis.

Serum desialylated glycoprotein level was tested for chronic hepatitic patients. The level was significantly elevated in patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis but not in chronic persistent hepatitis comparing to normal subjects. In chronic aggressive hepatitis, severe type (2B), serum desialylated glycoprotein levels were significantly enhanced but not in moderate type (2A) when compared to chronic persistent hepatitis. Sera taken serially from patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis, severe type (2B), demonstreated a slight correlation between circulating desialylated glycoprotein level and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase activity.