Introduction

There are two main chronic autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), which may lead to liver fibrosis or cirrhosis and consequent disturbances in protein and glycoprotein synthesis and glycosylation. One of the glycoproteins synthesised in the liver is transferrin (TRF).

Aim of the research

The aim of the study was to compare the serum profile of TRF isoforms in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases and extrahepatic cholestasis.

Material and methods

The study groups consisted of 76 patients with PBC, 100 patients with PSC, and 40 patients with extrahepatic cholestasis. Capillary electrophoresis was used to determine the profile of TRF isoforms.

Results

The differences in the TRF glycosylation occur in PBC and extrahepatic cholestasis. The mean concentrations of di- and trisialotransferrin were significantly lower in PBC patients than those in the controls. Additionally, the concentration of disialotransferrin differed significantly between the PBC and PSC groups. The area under the ROC curve for disialotransferrin in PBC patients (AUC = 0.819) was significantly higher than for PSC patients (AUC = 0.572). In turn, the mean concentrations of pentasialotransferrin in PBC and PSC were higher, and the mean concentrations of tetra- and disialotransferrin were lower in autoimmune cholestatic liver diseases than in extrahepatic cholestasis. None of the transferrin isoforms showed differences depending on the stage of liver fibrosis.

Conclusions

These differences enable the use of TRF isoforms in the differential diagnosis between these diseases.