The Effect of Rizaben (Tranilast) Administration on Serum GOT & GPT Level

Abstract

Ten cases of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis were treated by oral administration of Rizaben (tranilast). When liver function of these patients was examined after more than 2 weeks, 7 out of 10 cases showed very high serum GOT & GPT value (swing-out level with SMAC test). However, these same sera showed normal range of GOT & GPT value when tested by another method (Reitman-Frankel’s method), suggesting that these high values by SMAC test were not due to authentic liver dysfunction. Further analyses showed that, when examined by SMAC test, Rizaben in the patients’ sera can give a “false” high GOT & GPT value because of its direct UV absorption and nonspecific interference effect on the SMAC reagent system.