Abstract
Serum mitochondrial GOT (GOTM) and ornithine carbamyl transferase (OCT) activities were examined in 150 cases of hepatobiliary diseases. The serum level of GOTM and OCT in normal controls was 3.4±1.2 and 2.6±0.9 units, respectively. Both activities were elevated in acute hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, liver cancer and obstructive jaundice and GOTM was more than 10 units and OCT was more than 20 units in these diseases. The ratio of GOTM to total GOT activity was 25.1% in normal controls, while it remained as low as 12-16% in the active stage of hepatobiliary diseases. The ratio was elevated up to 25-30% in acute alcoholic hepatitis or acute biliary obstruction, Serum OCT level was also markedly elevated in these diseases. The disappearance rates of GOTM and OCT in acute hepatic disorders were so rapid and the apparent half-life of GOTM was 0.6 days, while that of OCT was 1.0 day in acute viral hepatitis. In alcoholic hepatitis, the apparent half-life of GOTM was 1.3 days and that of OCT being 1.8 days. The analysis of the disappearance rates of GOTM and OCT seems to give useful informations to evaluate acute hepatic disorders.
