Plasma prekallikrein in chronic liver diseases

: Plasma prekallikrein (PPK) is a single-chain glycoprotein synthesized in the liver. The aim of our study was to evaluate a plasma prekallikrein as the marker reflecting liver protein synthesis in patients with chronic liver diseases. PPK levels have been measured by own modification of amidolytic micro-assay in 43 patients with chronic liver diseases and 37 healthy volunteers as control group. As compared to control group, PPK level was significantly decreased in patients with chronic active hepatitis and with decompensated liver cirrhosis and significantly increased in patients with liver cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma. There was no difference in plasma prekallikrein between patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and controls. The results suggest that PPK might be a useful index for the assessment of residual functional liver mass in patients with chronic liver diseases.