[Behavior of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in acute viral hepatitis]

The value of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity has been serially evaluated in 63 patients with acute viral hepatitis at four different periods of the disease (i.e. 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 days from the onset of symptoms). The values of serum alanine-aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin have been evaluated in the same patients at the same period of time. At the first determination the gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was high in acute viral hepatitis, independently from aetiology (A, B, non-A, non-B), although the single values recorded in acute viral hepatitis type non-A, non-B, were higher than those observed in the other types. This activity exhibited a monoesponential pattern of decrease in all types of acute viral hepatitis; and it was still found high in the recovery phase when the others biohumoral indices (alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin) reached a normal level. Therefore gamma-glutamyltransferase activity could be considered of importance in the follow-up of acute viral hepatitis patients, although strictly in conjunction with alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase determination.