Pérez LF, Casal JA, Rojas P, Tutor JC. Relationship between plasma ammonia concentration and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme activities in liver cirrhosis.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2000;
38:1237-41. [PMID:
11205687 DOI:
10.1515/cclm.2000.195]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia is known to increase the secretion of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) to the extracellular medium in cultured human fibroblasts and Hep G2 cells. We examined 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and the results revealed a significant increase for the plasma activities of total Hex and its isoenzymes Hex A and Hex B (p < 0.001). The partial correlations, with other biochemical markers of liver injury constant, between plasma ammonia concentration and the activity (r = 0.658) and the proportion in percentage of the Hex B isoenzyme (r = 0.692) were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The increased concentration of ammonia could explain, at least partially, an increased secretion of Hex B isoforms to the plasma in patients with liver disease.
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