Asialoglycoprotein Receptor Function of Hepatocytes in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis

To assess whether the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptors are affected in patients with autoimmune hepatitis, the function of the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor was investigated in patients with autoimmune hepatitis or chronic hepatitis C. A new radionuclide liver imaging technique, Technetium-99 m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin, was applied to evaluate the function of the receptor. A Receptor Index (LHL 15) was calculated by dividing the radioactivity of the liver region-of-interest (ROI) by that of the liver plus heart ROI 15 min after radiolabeled ligand injection. Serum albumin, prothrombin time, hepaplastin test and plasma retention rate of indocyanine green at 15 min were not significantly different between patients in the autoimmune hepatitis group and chronic hepatitis C group. In addition, the Receptor Index of patients with autoimmune hepatitis, in whom the asialoglycoprotein receptor is a candidate target antigen for autoimmune response, was similar to that of patients with chronic hepatitis C. These results indicate that the hepatocyte receptor for asialoglycoproteins is not affected in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.