Acute elevation of serum transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase during circulatory shock

Abstract

Serum enzyme activities were measured in 43 patients who had hypotension and the clinical features of shock caused by hemorrhage, bacterial infection, neurologic injury and vascular obstruction. None had evidence of myocardial infarction or primary hepatic or biliary disease at the onset of shock. Elevation of serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase occurred in 70 per cent, of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase in 37 per cent, and of lactic dehydrogenase in 52 per cent. The degree of elevation of serum transaminase corresponded to the duration of shock. Abnormally high enzyme activities were observed during shock due to hemorrhage, bacterial infection and neurologic injury. It is concluded that elevations of SGOT and LDH are not helpful in the differential diagnosis of myocardial infarction from other causes of shock.