Serum mitochondrial aspartate transaminase activity after isoflurane or halothane anaesthesia

We examined the effect of halothane or isoflurane anaesthesia on hepatic function in 30 ASA I-III patients aged 18-70 yr undergoing lumbar discectomy. Hepatic function was assessed before anaesthesia, at the end of surgery, and at 3, 6, 24 and 48 h after surgery using routine enzyme tests of hepatic function and mitochondrial aspartate transaminase (mAST) activity. Although serum mAST activities increased after surgery in both groups of patients, these increases were statistically significantly greater in the group that received halothane. The groups were similar with regard to other tests of hepatic function. Calculation of the ratio of serum enzyme activities compared to baseline values suggested that mAST is a sensitive marker of anaesthetic-induced hepatic injury.