Serum glutathione S-transferase activity in liver diseases

Assay conditions of human liver glutathione S-transferase and its activity in human serum from liver disease patients were investigated. One mmol/l reduced glutathione, and 1 mmol/l-1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, pH 6.5, were used for the measurement, because of the very low non-enzymatic conjugation. Glutathione S-transferase activity was inhibited by bilirubin, but this inhibition was counteracted by the presence of a low concentration of albumin. The normal human serum glutathione S-transferase activity was 5.2 +/- 2.4 I.U./l (mean +/- S.D.), and was not influenced by any differences of age, sex or leukocyte count. A significant increase in serum enzyme activity was noted in cases of acute hepatitis with GPT exceeding 200 I.U./l, primary hepatoma and metastatic liver cancer. Some of the cases with fulminant hepatitis showed extremely high values. The degree of correlation between serum glutathione S-transferase and GOT or GPT was high in acute hepatitis, with GOT or GPT exceeding 200 I.U./l, in fulminant hepatitis, primary hepatoma and gall stones, while in chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis it was low. In cases of acute hepatitis and fulminant hepatitis, the disappearance of serum glutathione S-transferase from the blood was much faster than that of GOT and GPT. Serum glutathione S-transferase measurements will provide new and unique information for the diagnosis of acute liver diseases.