Study on some amino acid metabolising enzymes and associated changes in Certain Human liver disorders

The estimation of enzymes in serum is useful aids to detect and confirm a diagnosis of various hepatic disorders and their importance in clinical assessment of liver pathology is now well established. During the last three decades, the importance of trace elements in human health and disease has been receiving increasingly greater attention.

To study and compare the peak diagnostic elevations and normalization patterns of the four serum enzymes ALT(Alanine transaminase) and AST(Aspartate transaminase), OCT(Ornithine carbomyl transferase), ARG(Arginase) and the disease associated changes in serum copper and bilirubin during liver disorders. To see a statistically correlation between various circulating elevated enzymes and the associated change in serum concentration of Copper and Bilirubin.

The clinical material for present study comprised of 46 normal healthy subjects serving as a control group(Group 1) and a study group of 186(Group 2) patients suffering from liver disorders as diagnosed by attending physicians. Blood sample from all participants was analyzed for various parameter like HBsAg, ALT, AST, OCT, ARG, S.bilirubin and S.copper at time of admiision, 2 nd day after admission, After 1 week, After 2 week, After 3 week(on discharge) and during first and second followup.

Amongst the enzymatic parameters OCT activity was probable the most useful indicator of the severity of illness. The comparative usefulness in the order is OCT>AST>ALT>ARG. Total bilirubin was found to be very good indicator of severity, hepatic damage and prognosis. Seum copper level were indicative of severity of disease to some extent. High serum peak arginase activity were observed in post necrotic cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. High and significant elevation of serum copper level were observed in all liver disorder during acute phase of disease except alcoholic hepatitis.