Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase Values Research Articles

Hepatoprotector Effect of Banana Peel (Musa paradisiaca Sapientum) on Paracetamol Induced Rats

Background: Liver disease is generally still a high prevalence in Indonesia. One of drug-induced liver injury is paracetamol. Banana peel (Musa paradisiaca Sapientum) has flavonoid compounds that could increasing the production of glutathione enzymes in the liver. Objectives: This research aims to determine the activity of banana peel induced by paracetamol. This research is an experimental with pre and post test control group design method. Material and Methods: This research is an experimental with pre and post test control group design method. Group I was given 0.05% Na CMC as negative control, group II was given paracetamol 180 mg/kgBB as induction control group, group III was given banana peel extract at dose 700 mg / kgBB, group IV was given banana peel extract at dose 1400 mg/kgBB, and group V was given banana peel extract at dose 2100 mg/kgBW. Results: The liver damage can be measured by SGOT/SGPT serum levels of rats. SPSS data analysis with Paired sample T test obtained the value of p = 0.003 for SGOT (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) and p = 0.000 for SGPT. Conclusions: Both SGOT and SGPT values have p <0.05 which indicates that banana peel (Musa paradisiaca Sapientum) methanol extract has hepatoprotector effect on paracetamol-induced rats.

Black Seed (Nigella sativa) Efficacy in Improving Clinical Symptoms and Interleukin-6 Levels Schizophrenic Patients

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia with a global prevalence of 0.33–0.75% and one of the top 15 causes of disability. The etiology underlying this disease is still controversial. One of the causes is the Vulnerability Stress-Schizophrenia Inflammatory Model which shows an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, one of which is Interleukin-6 (IL-6). AIM: It is hoped that through the adjuvant anti-inflammatory effect of black seed or Nigella sativa can improve the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of Serum IL-6 as a marker of therapeutic efficacy, as well as observing the effect of treatment on liver function. METHODS: The present study was conducted 22 schizophrenic patients hospitalized at the psychiatric hospital (Rumah Sakit Khusus Daerah) of South Sulawesi aged 20–45 years and received risperidone 4 mg/day therapy. Patients were divided into two groups, the control and treatment groups received N. sativa 1000 mg/d for 4 weeks. Each group was measured for baseline and week 4 clinical symptoms of schizophrenia with Positive and Negative Symptom of Schizophrenia (PANSS) and serum IL-6 levels. The analysis also measured serum IL-6 levels in 14 healthy people by assessing the side effects of N. sativa adjuvants by measuring liver function enzymes of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT). RESULTS: Serum IL-6 levels of schizophrenic patients were higher than healthy controls. Administration of adjuvant N. sativa 1000 mg for 4 weeks significantly p < 0.001 improved PANSS value, decreased serum IL-6 levels 2.5 times faster in the treatment group and did not give a significant change in SGOT and SGPT values. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that N. sativa may consider as an adjuvant therapy to improve clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and reduce levels of IL-6 was faster than control group and is safe for liver function.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy to liver function of people living with HIV/AIDS patients in West Papua

Background : Antiretroviral (ARV) therapy is one of the efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Indonesia, especially West Papua. One of the side effects using ARV is impaired liver function in People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). ARV therapy evaluation to liver disorders can be seen from the Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT)/ Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) level.Objective : To find out the effect of ARV Fixed Dosed Combination (FDC) to liver function of PLWHA patients in West Papua.Methods : A cross-sectional study, involving 110 respondents who were PLWHA patients receiving ARV at Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) service of hospital in Manokwari, Sorong, and Fak-fak. Laboratory tests was used to examine the liver function. Other variable data were obtained from medical records. The Fisher Exact Test with a significance level of <0.05 was used to determine the effect of ARV to liver function.Results : Respondents had no liver problems with normal SGOT and SGPT values, i.e. 72,7% and 76.4%, respectively. While, the rest had mild and moderate toxicity. Respondent experiencing moderate toxicity was 2 patients who regularly took FDC in Sorong.Conclussion : The FDC using in ARV therapy did not significantly influence the increase of SGOT and SGPT on PLWHA patients in West Papua.

A study in early neonatal period for the outcome based on the hepatic involvement following severe birth asphyxia in full term neonates

Background: The current study is focused on assessing the liver involvement of severely birth asphyxiated newborns, by measuring liver enzymes like Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) to predict the outcome of those babies. Methods: Total 111 severely birth asphyxiated newborns were assessed in a hospital based prospective analytical study. Liver enzymes were measured for all babies included in the study. Study subject details were obtained through a pre-structured questionnaire and also morbidity and mortality were noted. Analysis of the research data was done through appropriate statistical methods using SPSS version 20.Results: It was observed that incidence of hypoxic ischemic hepatitis, among entire study population was 34.2% (38 cases) based on SGPT (>100 U/l) values. Current study findings indicated that incidence of hypoxic ischemic hepatitis had a positive correlation with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) staging. Mean SGOT, SGPT values were observed to increase as the HIE staging progressed. Based on Spearman’s correlation coefficient evaluation, it was determined that the elevated SGOT and SGPT values had moderate positive correlation with HIE, seizure, ventilator support and death in the study population. It was found from the present study findings that statistically significant mortality (77.4%) was observed among the HIE stage III babies, with elevated SGPT values.Conclusions: Current study findings revealed that elevated SGOT and SGPT values (more than twice the normal) has high sensitivity to predict the outcome in severely birth asphyxiated newborns. The stated parameters can prove to be effective in counselling parents regarding morbidity and mortality of neonates due to birth asphyxia.

Sub-chronic toxicity of Garcinia atroviridis Griff Fruit's ethanol extract on Wistar rats (Ratus norvegicus).

Garcinia atroviridis Griff. (GA) is a tropical fruit that commonly used as a traditional medicine to this day. This study was conducted to determine the sub-chronic toxicity effect of GA fruits ethanol extract on body weight, clinical hematology and biochemical parameters, and organ's histopathology. This study is an experimental research by oral treatments for 90 days with completely randomized design. The treatment group consists of five classes. Each class was given the treatment with a dosage of 50 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW, 800 mg/kg BW and satellite group with 2% PGA, or 800 mg/kgBW. Based on ANOVA and advanced Tukey test results using SPSS, the hematological parameters such as mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and white blood cell had significant differences with the control group. In the biochemical parameters, the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase values and triglycerides (in male rats), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and creatinine (in female rats) had significant differences with the control group. In conclusion, GA fruits ethanol extract is safe and non toxic to body weight, clinical hematology and biochemical parameters, and histopathology of ten organs.

Optimisation of a carambola pomace fibre fortified mix fruit beverage powder, its characterization and in vivo study

Abstract Carambola pomace rich mix fruit juice beverage powder was optimized and developed by spray drying using response surface methodology. Maltodextrin concentration and inlet temperature were taken as two independent variables. The response variables were moisture content, yield, solubility, bulk density, and hygroscopicity. The actual values for the response variables for the optimum conditions i.e. inlet temperature of 175 °C and 25% maltodextrin concentration were in tandem with that of the predicted values. The final product contained 9.29% of total dietary fibre and had intermediate cohesiveness and relatively good flowability property. The beverage powder size range was distributed in the range of 0.90–1.50 µM and 43.50–102.00 µM. In vivo study of the fibre rich beverage powder showed lowered cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values. Maximum decrease was obtained in Group II. The caecal matter showed presence of short chain fatty acids which are desirable for maintaining colon health. The proposed optimisation model through RSM could be used for the development of a functional mix fruit beverage powder fortified with fibre rich fraction of carambola pomace and the obtained functional beverage powder showed functional effects under in vivo test conditions.

Oral Lichen Planus in Relation to Transaminase Levels and Hepatitis C Viral Antibodies Detection: A Clinical Study

ABSTRACTBackgroundLichen planus (LP) is a common long term inflammatory disorder that affects skin and mucous membranes. Though mostly asymptomatic in oral mucosa it may cause severe morbidity in erosive cases. The relation between LP and liver diseases especially hepatitis C have been proposed by many authors with varied results. Alteration in liver function tests reflected by increased levels of transaminase levels, i.e., serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) with or without the presence of antibodies against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been observed in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients in many studies. So this study was undertaken with the intent to further evaluate any alliance between OLP and liver disease principally hepatitis C.Materials and methodsThe study consisted of 30 histopathologically confirmed patients of OLP and 30 age and sex matched healthy volunteers visiting the outpatient department of a dental hospital over a period of 1 year. All subjects in both groups were subjected to SGOT, SGPT and HCV antibodies detection.ResultsThe percentage of patients with elevated SGOT and SGPT values was higher among the OLP patients in the study group (40%) in comparison to subjects in the control group (7%). The mean values of SGOT and SGPT were also higher in the study group in comparison to the control group. No HCV antibodies were found in the serum of subjects in both the study group and control group.ConclusionLiver disease or hepatitis C can be considered a risk factor for LP and may lead to diagnosis, early treatment and possibly a better prognosis in asymptomatic OLP patients. Further studies with large samples are recommended to prove the current hypothesis regarding the association between LP and chronic liver disease and/or HCV infection.How to cite this articleSobti G, Manjunath M, Deepak TA, Krishna S, Annaji AG. Oral Lichen Planus in Relation to Transaminase Levels and Hepatitis C Viral Antibodies Detection: A Clinical Study. World J Dent 2016;7(2):64-68.

Clinical features of patients with typhoid fever and drug resistance of the causative isolates in western Iran

Typhoid fever is an important infectious disease in developing countries, including Iran. In this survey, all patients hospitalized in teaching hospitals of Hamedan during 1995-2005 were investigated. A total of 162 patients with typhoid fever were studied. Of all patients, 106 were male (65.4%). The most prevalent symptoms were fever (93.2%), chills (76.5%), anorexia (72.2%) and headache (71%). Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were present in 43.8% and 13.6%, respectively. Salmonella typhi strains were identified in 144 patients (88.9%) and S. paratyphi A strains were found in 12 (7.4%). In others, S. paratyphi B and C were detected. Serum glutamic oxalo-acetic transaminase values were higher than normal in 77.5% of cases and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase values were higher than normal in 62.5%. The highest sensitivity rate was for ceftizoxime, 91.4% and the lowest rate was for ampicillin, 16.3%.

The effects of dopamine infusion during operation on the postoperative liver dysfunction.

Dopamine improves renal function and renal blood flow by increasing cardiac output but its effect to ameriolate postoperative liver dysfunction has not yet been defined. Effect of 3-5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) dopamine was studied in 22 patients who had total gastrectomy (dopamine group), and was compared with 22 patients who underwent the same operation and without dopamine infusion (control group). Liver function was evaluated from serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) values. Although postoperative SGOT and SGPT values in both groups were increased significantly higher than the preoperative values, the increases in SGOT (40 +/- 14 IU) and SGPT (32 +/- 15 IU) values in the dopamine group were significantly less than those in the control group (67 +/- 27 IU, 43 +/- 19 IU) ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01).In conclusion, these results suggested that this observation might be explained by amelioration of the postoperative liver dysfunction by infusion of dopamine. Dopamine infusion at a small dose during upper abdominal surgery is beneficial for liver function.

Selective reduction of hepatic cytochrome P450 content in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis: A mechanism for impairment of microsomal drug oxidation

Alteration of the components of the mixed-function oxidase system, including cytochrome P450, cytochrome b5, cytochrome P450 reductase, and cytochrome b5 reductase, was examined in liver microsomes prepared from needle biopsy samples of 12 patients with intrahepatic cholestasis. The rate of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation in the microsomes was also measured as the activity of cytochrome P450-dependent drug oxidation. The cytochrome P450 content (0.29 ± 0.05 nmol/mg microsomal protein) in the patients was significantly lower than that in the 11 control subjects (0.41 ± 0.09). The rate of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation was also significantly lower in the patients. However, the cytochrome b5 content and the activities of the reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate- and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotidecytochrome c reductases did not differ between the two groups. Thus, selective reduction of cytochrome P450 seems to play a major role in the impairment of microsomal drug oxidation during intraheptic cholestasis. Moreover, the reduction of cytochrome P450 was correlated with the serum concentrations of total bilirubin and bile acid but not with the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase value. These observations suggest that the reduction of cytochrome P450 might be related to the severity of cholestasis.

Massive transfusion of perfluorocarbon emulsion (Fluosol-DA) in newborn piglets.

To study massive perfluorocarbon transfusion in neonatal animals, 30 piglets (less than 24 h old) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Fluosol-DA-treated (50 ml/kg), albumin-treated (50 ml/kg), and non-treated controls. Pre- and post-transfusion measurements included blood chemistries and complete blood count (CBC). Post-transfusion histological analysis of tissues was also performed. There was no mortality or respiratory distress in the piglets that received Fluosol transfusion. Fluosol-treated piglets had significantly lower (p less than 0.05) post-transfusion serum calcium and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values than the controls. The Fluosol group also had significantly higher chloride and glucose, but lower calcium and bilirubin levels than the albumin group. However, in no cases were the differences of clinical significance. There were no differences between the experimental groups' pre- and post-transfusion CBC values. Microscopic examination of lung, heart, and spleen samples revealed only the presence of splenic vacuoles which we attributed to perfluorocarbon accumulation.

Laboratory assessment of severe chronic active liver disease during and after corticosteroid therapy: Correlation of serum transaminase and gamma globulin levels with histologic features

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and gamma globulin levels were correlated with morphologic findings during and after corticosteroid therapy of severe chronic active liver disease to assess ability to monitor histologic change. Morphologic features were interpreted by a single observer from 441 coded biopsy specimens obtained from 69 patients. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values were more predictive of histologic findings than gamma globulin levels (p < 0.02), correctly reflecting morphologic status in 67% of instances during treatment and 80% after treatment. Abnormalities in either test identified chronic active liver disease with similar accuracy, but serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase determinations were more sensitive to active inflammation. Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase elevations of more than twice normal during and after therapy were reliably associated with chronic active liver disease. Normal laboratory studies, however, did not detect chronic active liver disease in 55% of cases during treatment and 19% after therapy. The majority of lesions undetected by laboratory investigations comprised periportal necrosis while confluent necrosis was rarely missed. We conclude that serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase determinations provide a useful mechanism for monitoring chronic active liver disease. During therapy, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase levels reliably discount resolution, but do not predict histologic inactivity. After treatment, laboratory surveillance inconsistently detects periportal necrosis, but rarely misses severe inflammation of potentially greater prognostic significance.

Laboratory monitoring of parenteral nutrition-associated hepatic dysfunction in infants.

Hepatic dysfunction associated with parenteral nutrition (PN) is a well recognized occurrence. In order to define the temporal inter-relationships of direct bilirubin to other laboratory parameters, total and direct bilirubin, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and alkaline phosphatase were measured prior to beginning PN and then weekly throughout the duration of PN in 60 consecutive neonates. Cholestatic jaundice (ChJ), defined as a direct bilirubin greater than or equal to 2.0 mg/dl, developed in 11 (33%) of 33 infants receiving PN for at least 2 weeks. Direct bilirubin was the most sensitive and earliest indicator of ChJ. SGOT and SGPT values in the ChJ group were not statistically different from the non-ChJ group until 2 weeks after the onset of cholestasis. Although there was a progressive increase in alkaline phosphatase during the course of PN, the increase was not greater in the ChJ group. In summary, direct bilirubin is the only laboratory indicator of hepatic status that need be determined serially in parenterally alimented infants. Although SGPT and SGOT may be helpful in characterizing hepatic dysfunction once ChJ has occurred, alkaline phosphatase levels do not reliably assess PN-associated liver injury.

Dacron interposition shunts for portal hypertension. An analysis of morbidity correlates.

Analysis of 79 Dacron interposition shunts performed at Emory University from 1971 to 1977 identified a number of preoperative characteristics that correlate with short-term and long-term morbidity. Initial hospital mortality was related to the degree of elevation of the bilirubin and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), to the presence of encephalopathy and to the urgency of the shunt procedure. Cumulative survival correlated best with the preoperative SGOT and bilirubin values, but other variables, including the Child's classification, preoperative encephalopathy, serum albumin, and the age of the patient at the time of operation, also exhibited significant associations. The hospital mortality of 13% and cumulative mortality of 48% in this series are in substantial agreement with similar reports in the literature. This experience differs widely from that described by most authors, however, in two other important respects: 1) significant hepatic encephalopathy has been observed in 45% of these hospital survivors, and 2) almost one-quarter of these patients have experienced spontaneous shunt closure. Thus, major shunt related complications have occurred in 70% of the patients to date. This incidence of undesirable consequences raises a serious question concerning the continued use of the Dacron interposition shunt for elective portal decompression.

Artifactual Depression of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase by Metronidazole

Eighteen patients developed abnormally low serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values during metronidazole therapy. Metronidazole absorbs at 340 nm, simulating reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is the final colorimetric product of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase assay.

Incidence of acute exertional rhabdomyolysis. Serum myoglobin and enzyme levels as indicators of muscle injury.

This study was conducted to determine, on a prospective basis, the incidence of acute exertional rhabdomyolysis (AER) among recruits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif. Blood samples were taken from each of 337 volunteer recruits on each of their first six days of regularly scheduled training. Serum myoglobin, serum creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values were used as indicators of muscle injury. Substantial elevations of serum enzyme activity were observed throughout the study population. Of the study population, 39.2% had serum myoglobin levels that ranged from 0.37 mug/ml to 21.9 mug/ml during the study interval. Six subjects had serum myoglobin levels consistent with those reported in clinical cases of AER. It is concluded that, in a recruit population, large numbers of men may have myoglobinemia but not be seen initially as clinical cases.

Relation of intraoperative or early postoperative transmural myocardial infarction to patency of aortocoronary bypass grafts and to diseased ungrafted coronary arteries

Serial preoperative and postoperative electrocardiograms and vectorcardiograms were obtained in 500 patients undergoing saphenous vein aortocoronary artery bypass graft surgery. Evidence of transmural myocardial infarction was found early postoperatively in 67 patients (13 percent). Age and sex distributions, number of vessels diseased or vessels grafted, and preoperative and postoperative New York Heart Association functional classification (mean follow-up, 26 months) did not differ in the groups with and without infarction. Increased duration of cardiopulmonary bypass time (more than 120 minutes) was slightly greater in the group with infarction ( P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that 60 percent of patients in the group with infarction were identified by a 1st day serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase value greater than 100 U/liter; however, for each such patient identified, there was approximately one false positive result. Use of other values (creatine phosphokinase, cardiopulmonary bypass time and total anoxic rest time) did not improve discrimination. Twenty-five percent of all transmural infarctions occurred within the zone of myocardium supplied by a diseased ungrafted artery. In 32 patients with early evidence of transmural myocardial infarction in a zone of myocardium supplied by a grafted artery, postoperative angiography showed as many with patent as with occluded grafts. Of 154 patients in the group without infarction who had early postoperative graft angiograms, 30 (19 percent) had one graft occluded and yet no evidence of transmural infarction by our criteria. Therefore, early postoperative evidence of transmural myocardial infarction as defined in this study is an unreliable indicator of the status of the graft supplying the zone of infarction.

Hepatotoxicity in Cholangiography

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In regard to the report of a hepatotoxic reaction (228:1420, 1974), we recently presented at the annual meeting of the Radiologic Society of North America the results of a comparison study of differing dosage regimens in intravenous cholangiography. One interesting finding was elevation of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) level after cholangiography. Of 149 patients who received the single dose recommended by the manufacturer, 13 (8.7%) developed an elevated SGOT level. Of 126 patients who received the double dose advocated recently in the literature,^1-323 (18.3%) developed abnormal SGOT levels after cholangiography. A 77% incidence in elevated SGOT levels is mentioned in the German literature when a double dose of a mixture of ioglycamate meglumine and ioglycamate sodium (Bilivistan) was used for cholangiography.⁴Other German authors have also noted elevations of SGOT values when doses of this mixture or iodipamide meglumine injection (Biligrafin) larger

Electrocardiographic and serum enzyme changes of myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass surgery

Serial preoperative and postoperative electrocardiograms were obtained in 50 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, 15 undergoing aortic valve replacement and 13 undergoing mitral valve surgery. Postoperative infarction was defined as the appearance of new Q waves on the postoperative electrocardiogram. Infarction occurred in 5 of 50 patients (10 percent) who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. Age, preoperative hypertension or a pattern of left ventricular hypertrophy on the electrocardiogram did not correlate with infarction. Coronary disease was more severe in patients with than in those without infarction (mean of 3.2 vessels with 50 percent stenosis compared to 2.4 vessels). There was no correlation with bypass time or use of cross-clamping of the aorta during surgery. Postoperatively, 4 of 5 patients (80 percent) with infarction had serum values for glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) of more than 200 and more than 2,000 international units, respectively, whereas 3 of 45 (7 percent) without infarction had this pattern ( P < 0.001). Of patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, 3 of 15 (20 percent) had postoperative infarction. All 3 of these patients had a serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase value of more than 200 and a creatine phosphokinase value of more than 2,000 units, compared to 2 of 12 (17 percent) without infarction. None of the 12 patients who underwent mitral valve surgery had postoperative infarction, and none had a serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase value of more than 200 or a creatine phosphokinase value of more than 2,000 units. Myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass surgery is more likely in patients with at least three-vessel disease but appears to be unrelated to pump time or aortic cross-clamping. Localized snaring or clamping of coronary arteries may be important. Postoperative serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and creatine phosphokinase levels correlate with electrocardiographic evidence of infarction.

Hepatitis Affecting Hemodialysis and Transplant Patients

Thirty-eight cases of hepatitis affecting dialysis and transplant patients, medical personnel, and one patient's spouse were recognized from March 1969 through July 1970. Dialysis patients were usually symptomatic; almost one half were jaundiced, one died of hepatic failure, and persistence of Au antigenemia was not the rule. The immunosuppressed posttransplant patient had a benign clinical course compared with both dialysis patients and contact cases. Azathioprine therapy adversely influenced the course of hepatitis in some posttransplant patients, and its temporary discontinuation was associated with rapid clinical and biochemical recovery and with a change from positive to negative test results for Australia (Au) antigen in two of four patients. Six posttransplant patients had chronic Au antigenemia, but only two of them had chronic elevation of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase values. Three other posttransplant patients have had intermittently elevated transaminase values without a positive Au antigen reaction.