Original Paper

Effects of in vivo and in vitro Dialysis on Plasma Transaminase Activity
David R. Crawford, Robert S. Reyna, Michael W. Weiner

Stanford Medical Service, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital, Palo Alto, Calif., and Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Santa Clara, Calif.

Address of Corresponding Author

Nephron 1978;22:418-422 (DOI: 10.1159/000181484)

  Key Words

• Glutamic oxalacetic transaminase
• Dialysis
• Hemodialysis
• Glutamic pyruvic transaminase
• Uremic toxins

  Abstract

The effects of dialysis on plasma glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were investigated. GOT was measured using Autoanalyzer (SMA) and kinetic (Karmen) methods. Hemodialysis of uremic subjects was associated with a significant increase of GOT (SMA) and GPT (SMA). In contrast, hemodialysis had no effect on GOT (Karmen). However, the SMA method is influenced by substances affecting the blank value. Therefore, the results suggest that the increase in transaminase activities measured by the SMA method are not due to true increases in enzyme activities. Plasma from dialysis patients, obtained prior to hemodialysis, was also dialyzed in vitro. In vitro dialysis of uremic plasma significantly increased GOT (SMA), GOT (Karmen) and GPT (SMA). The results suggest that an inhibitor of transaminase activity may accumulate in renal failure. In vitro dialysis may remove this inhitor and thus increase true transaminase activity.

Copyright © 1978 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Michael W. Weiner, MD, Stanford Medical Service, VA Hospital, 3801 Miranda (IC601), Palo Alto, CA 94304, (USA)

  Article Information

Received: August 2, 1977
Accepted: April 12, 1978
Published online: December 02, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5