Urinaryl-fucose: A new marker for the diagnosis of chronic liver disease

Abstract The urinary levels of l -fucose were measured in 131 patients with chronic liver diseases. The mean urinary levels of L-fucose Cμmol/g creatinine) were significantly higher in the patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (211 ± 52), chronic active hepatitis (250 ± 70), cirrhosis (270 ± 67) and hepatocellular carcinoma (298 ± 104) than in normal subjects (147 ± 34). Significant correlations were found between the urinary level of L-fucose and the conventional luver function tests. A positive correlation was observed between the urinary level of L-fucose and serum activity of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, serum bilirubin, flocculation test, or indocyanine green excretion test (ICG). A negative correlation was also noted between the urinary level of l -fucose and prothrombin time, hepaplastin test, albumin and cholinesterase. In conclusion, increase in the urinary level of L-fucose is related to the degree of chronic liver disease, and the measurement of urinary l -fucose concentration may, therefore, be a useful marker of chronic liver diseases.