Effect of ethanol challenge on serum glycoproteins in alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver disease

The effects of acute ethanol challenge on serum glycoprotein concentrations in man were studied. Serum levels of haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin and pre-albumin were measured fasting and 6 hr after oral ethanol 0.75 g/kg body weight in 8 healthy controls, 13 patients with alcoholic liver disease and 13 with non-alcoholic-related liver damage, both patient groups being further subdivided into those with and without cirrhosis. Basal levels of haptoglobin were significantly higher in non-cirrhotic alcoholics than controls and pre-albumin levels were lower in non-alcohol-related cirrhotic liver disease. In response to ethanol challenge, no consistent change was observed in any group, nor was there any significant difference between groups. There was, however, a significant correlation (r = 0.53, P less than 0.005) between the percentage changes in haptoglobin and alpha-2-macroglobulin. In 16 subjects (2 controls, 8 alcoholics and 6 non-alcoholics) blood levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde were measured serially: there was no relationship between the peak or mean concentration and the glycoprotein response. This study does not substantiate other reports which claimed to be able to predict the severity and reversibility of alcoholic liver disease on the basis of the serum glycoprotein response to ethanol: ethanol challenge with measurement of serum glycoproteins cannot substitute for proper histological assessment.