Determination of arginase activity in blood in epidemic hepatitis

Abstract

The changes of arginase activity m patients with acute liver disorder, i. e. epidemic hepatitis have been studied. Seventy-eight patients were examined, and the changes of activated and non-activated arginase in the plasma and in erythrocytes were analysed. From the results obtained it has been concluded that plasma arginase sensitively reflects the acute hepatic condition and, similarly to some other enzymes, it appears in blood serum if liver cells are damaged. Contrary to chronic liver diseases where a decreased arginase level in erythrocytes and low values in the blood serum are found at the same time, it has not been possible previously to draw any diagnostic conclusions from the results obtained when following up arginase in erythrocytes in acute liver diseases. During a certain period of the disease, i. e. in the period of normalization of plasma arginase, parallel changes of arginase were found in the erythrocytes.