Liver total protein in relation to cause of death in man

Abstract

Human liver samples obtained from 343 autopsies at the Instituto Médico Legal Nina Rodrigues in Salvador, capital of Bahia State, Brazil, were studied for protein determination in parallel with ADH activity levels. There is no effect of age, race, or sex on the level of protein concentration, or on ADH levels. However, cause of death was found to be an important factor on total liver protein concentration in a similar manner as previously reported for ADH. Livers from patients dying from sudden traumatic accident had higher levels of protein concentration than those dying from acute illness. Also the acute illness group had higher protein concentration than those patients dying of chronic illness. Similar types of association were also confirmed for ADH activity levels in the present data. The possible mechanisms responsible for lowering liver protein during diseases are discussed.