Functional liver imaging with asialoglycoprotein receptors and serum hyaluronate in a patient with amyloidosis

J Gastroenterol. 1995 Jun;30(3):403-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02347519.

Abstract

A 47-year-old man with primary amyloidosis was admitted with abdominal pain. A new radionuclide liver imaging technique using Technetium-99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin, was performed and the serum hyaluronate concentration was measured. Although ordinary laboratory tests revealed only slight abnormalities, the uptake of the radiolabelled ligand for hepatocyte asialo-glycoprotein receptors was decreased, and marked hepatomegaly was revealed. Furthermore, the serum hyaluronate level was elevated. Histological examination of a hepatic needle biopsy specimen revealed a marked deposition of amyloid in the hepatic perisinusoidal spaces. These results indicate that this new radionuclide liver imaging technique (using Technetium-99m diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin) and the measurement of serum hyaluronate may be useful supplementary tools for identifying amyloid deposition in the hepatic perisinusoidal spaces in patients with amyloidosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Asialoglycoproteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / blood
  • Liver Diseases / diagnosis
  • Liver Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Liver Diseases / metabolism
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate*

Substances

  • Asialoglycoproteins
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • technetium Tc 99m DTPA-galactosyl-human serum albumin
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate