[Acetylation phenotype in patients with periodic disease]

Acetylation phenotype distribution (activity of N-acetyltransferase enzyme) was studied in 29 patients with periodical disease (PD), 73 healthy persons (Armenians), and 20 patients (also Armenians) suffering from epithelial coccygeal cysts. The results obtained indicated the prevalence of slow acetylation phenotype (67%) in the entire Armenian population. PD was characterized by slow acetylation type (28 of 29 patients had slow acetylation with a high frequency of very slow inactivators). The other hereditary pathology, also specific for Armenians (epithelial coccygeal cysts), was characterized by another type of acetylation--a rapid one. The role of slow acetylation as a genetic marker of PD was discussed.