Abstract
Alterations in circulating levels of vitamin D-binding protein (Gc) and the percentage of Gc in complexed form were further studied in normal subjects and in patients with fulminant hepatic necrosis in relation to clinical outcome. Levels of Gc were markedly reduced in all 7 patients studied, particularly in nonsurvivors. The percentage of Gc in complexed form was generally <10% in normal subjects. However, complexes were increased in all patients, and the percentage correlated strongly with clinical outcome, being 22% ± 7.3% in survivors and 72% ± 7.5% in those who died (p < 0.001). These results provide further evidence that Gc plays an important role in complexing and clearance of cellular actin released during tissue necrosis.
