Serum guanase activities after myocardial infarction

Area of Science:

• Clinical Biochemistry
• Cardiology
• Hepatology

Background:

• Serum enzyme activities are crucial biomarkers in diagnosing cardiac and liver conditions.
• Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is commonly used to assess myocardial infarction, but can also indicate liver damage.
• The role of serum guanase in myocardial infarction (MI) and its relation to liver function requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the significance of elevated serum guanase activity in patients admitted to a Coronary Care Unit.
• To determine the correlation between serum guanase levels and other cardiac and liver enzymes.
• To assess the diagnostic value of serum guanase as a liver function test in the context of myocardial infarction.

Main Methods:

• Enzyme activities (guanase, AST, ALT, CPK, HBDH) were measured in 290 blood samples from 96 consecutive CCU patients.
• Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the frequency and magnitude of elevated enzyme levels.
• Correlation between different enzyme activities was assessed.

Main Results:

• Elevated serum guanase activity (>2 U/l) was observed in 19 patients (20%).
• All patients with elevated guanase also exhibited abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, suggesting liver involvement.
• Elevated serum guanase following MI suggests sub-clinical hepatic necrosis.

Conclusions:

• Elevated serum guanase in MI patients points to concurrent sub-clinical hepatic necrosis.
• Serum guanase can be a valuable liver function test, even in cardiac patients.
• Caution is advised when using AST as a sole indicator of cardiac necrosis without assessing liver-specific enzymes like guanase.