[In vivo measurement of hepatic binding protein in chronic liver disease--validation as a measure of hepatic functional reserve].

[Tc-99m] Galactosyl-neoglycoalbumin (TcNGA) is a synthetic radiolabeled ligand specific to the hepatocyte receptor, hepatic binding protein (HBP), a specific receptor to serum asialoglycoprotein. A TcNGA study was performed on 34 humans: normal volunteers (7) chronic hepatitis (6), hepatic cirrhosis (8), and hepatocellular carcinoma superimposed on cirrhosis (13). Heart and liver time activity curves were obtained following intravenous injection of TcNGA (5 mCi, 1.82 x 10(-9) mol/kg). HBP concentration ([HBP]) was calculated by curve-fitting techniques using the nonlinear three compartment model, which includes biomolecular reaction between HBP and TcNGA. [HBP] values were compared with conventional liver function tests. [HBP] had a good correlation with prothrombin time (n = 34, r = 0.694, p = 0.0001) thrombotest (n = 34, r = 0.692, p = 0.0001), hepaplastin test (n = 26, r = 0.787, p = 0.0001), albumin (n = 34, r = 0.712, p = 0.0001), cholinesterase (n = 34, r = 0.801, p = 0.0001), ICGR15 (n = 33, r = 0.761, p = 0.0001), KICG (n = 30, r = 0.709, p = 0.0001), ICG Rmax (n = 12, r = 0.735, p = 0.0064) and Child-Turcotte classification score (n = 34, r = 0.819, p = 0.0001). We concluded that excellent correlations of [HBP] to conventional liver function tests suggest that in vivo receptor measurement via TcNGA kinetic analysis is a sensitive and promising method in the estimation of hepatic functional reserve in patients with chronic liver disease.