Increased Serum Corrinoids Correlates with Disease Severity and IgA Levels in Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Abstract

Relationship between increased serum cobalamin level and liver disease have been recently reported. In this work, levels of total corrinoids, cobalamin (vitamin B₁₂) and cobalamin analogues and levels of IgA were determined by radioisotope dilution assay and nephelometric laser analyses. They all have been measured in superior vena cava, inferior vena cava and hepatic vein of controls and of alcoholic cirrhotic patients grouped according to the Child-Pugh classification. Compared with normal subjects, venous blood content of total corrinoids, of cobalamin and of IgA in alcoholic cirrhotics increased significantly with the severity of the disease (p < 0.01). In severe, moderate, and mild alcoholic cirrhosis total corrinoids and cobalamin were, respectively, about 5-, 2-, and 1.5-fold higher than in controls, whereas IgA was 3-, 2.5- and 1.5-fold higher, respectively. The serum IgA level was significantly correlated with the level of seric saturated haptocorrin (r = 0.54; p < 0.01) and with the seric total corrinoids (r = 0.39; p < 0.01). In the absence of significant hepatic cytolysis, the enhanced level of seric corrinoids in cirrhosis could be partly explained by a competitive inhibition of the liver uptake of haptocorrin by circulating asialoglycoproteins, including IgA.

Blood Transcobalamin Levels in Malignant Hepatoma

“…This demonstrates that the TC II synthesis in the liver does not systematically increase in most of the patients with MH. A recent study by our group showed that unsaturated TC II was not increased in alcoholic liver cirrhosis [17], TC II synthesis has been demonstrated in normal hepatocytes [18,19]. The rise of the blood TC II level in MH could thus be explained by an increased TC II synthesis in the tumor [9,20].…”

“…Elsewhere, other studies comparing TC II, saturated HC and IgA levels in cir rhotic patients and in control patients failed to show any significant variation of the TC II level [17]. It was observed that serum IgA levels were significantly higher in the cir rhotic patients than in the control patientsmaybe due to an abnormal hepatocyte clear ance -and were correlated with the satu rated HC level.…”

To study and evaluate the prevalence and pattern of peripheral neuropathy in patients of cirrhosis of liver in rural population of Uttar Pradesh

“…Several studies show a significant decrease of intracellular cobalamin in liver biopsies. (5)(6)(7) Peripheral neuropathy need to be focused as it is important complication of cirrhosis of liver that may seriously impair patient's routine daily activities and quality of life. Various studies revealed prevalence of peripheral neuropathy varying from 19-80% in the cirrhotic patients on nerve conduction studies.…”

“…Various studies revealed prevalence of peripheral neuropathy varying from 19-80% in the cirrhotic patients on nerve conduction studies. (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) Peripheral nerve dysfunction is significantly more frequent in advanced liver disease compared with early liver damage.Some diseases producing liver dysfunction can independently cause peripheral neuropathy. Hence, a cause and effect relationship between liver disease and neuropathy has been questioned.…”

Vitamin B12 and hepatic enzyme serum levels correlate with interleukin-6 in alcohol-dependent individuals without liver disease

“…Liver disease has been frequently associated with elevated vitamin B12 levels in serum [14][15][16][17][18] and with a lowered liver tissue total vitamin B12 concentration [19].…”