Aim: The study of the level of middle mass molecules (MMM) in blood plasma of patients in different periods of viral hepatitis; their relation to some routine markers of viral hepatitides; appropriateness of MMM test in differential diagnosis with other jaundices.
Materials and methods: Plasma MMM content was measured in 123 patients aged 17-65. 28 of them had mild form of viral hepatitis, 56 had moderately severe and severe hepatitis, 39 had jaundice of other etiology. Healthy donors with MMM levels 1.18 +/- 0.02 optic units served as control. Computer correlation analysis discovered a rise in blood levels of MMM in the phase of jaundice development, a fall in the phase of the disease peak, rise again in the phase of jaundice attenuation and normalization in convalescents. The changes were small in mild disease, great in moderate and grave disease. In the absence of intoxication MMM made up 1.27 +/- 0.0.02 OU, in dramatic intoxication MMM level rose to 1.47 +/- 0.04 OU (p < 0.05). Correlation was not noted between MMM content and conventional markers of viral hepatitides. There was no rise in concentration of MMM in non-viral jaundice.
Conclusion: MMM concentrations in plasma in viral hepatitides can be used as a prognostic and differential-diagnostic sign.