The binding rate of sialic acid to serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in patients with chronic hepatic injury.

The level of serum orosomucoid, the amount of sialic acid binding to it, and the binding rate of sialic acid to orosomucoid in normal individuals and in patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis were determined by affinity column chromatography, SDS electrophoresis and the method of Warren. Although no apparent changes in the level of serum orosomucoid or the amount of sialic acid binding to it in each group were seen, the binding rate of sialic acid to orosomucoid in chronic persistent hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis showed a remarkable increase, compared with normal individuals and patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, the binding rate of sialic acid in liver cirrhosis was the lowest in each group.