A commercially available enzyme-immunometric assay for serum α-glutathione S-transferase (GST) was evaluated. Endogenous serum α-GST diluted linearly within the calibration range. However, we recommend that the sample and second antibody reagent are always added sequentially in the assay to avoid hook effect. Between-assay variability was below 7% across the calibration range and the upper limit of the reference range in adults (n = 219) was 11 · 4 μg/L. Within-individual variability in serum α-GST concentrations measured over a 4–6 week period in 4 healthy adults was small. Serum α-GST concentrations did not change significantly 6 h after a therapeutic dose of paracetamol.
Studies in two patients after liver transplantation showed that serum α-GST is a better discriminant of acute changes in liver function than conventional tests. Serum α-GST concentrations were unaffected by gross muscle damage, extra-hepatic inflammation, or haemolysis and thus appear to be more liver specific than transaminase activities. The effect of renal impairment on serum α-GST concentrations requires further investigation.
SundbergAGMNilssonRAppelkvistELDallnerG.Immunohistochemical localization of α and π class glutathione transferases in normal human tissues. Pharmacol Toxicol1993; 72: 321–31.
4.
MannervokBAwasthiYCBoardPGHayesJDDillioCKettererBNomenclature for human glutathione transferases. Biochem J1992; 282: 305–6.
5.
TrullAKFaceySPReesGWWightDGDNoble-JamiesonGJoughinCSerum alpha-glutathione S-transferase: A sensitive marker of hepatocellular damage associated with liver allograft rejection. Transplantation1994; 58: 1345–51.
6.
BeckettGJFosterGRHusseyAJOliveiraDBGDonovanJWPrescottLFPlasma glutathione S-transferase and F protein are more sensitive than alanine aminotransferase as markers of paracetamol (acetaminophen)-induced liver damage. Clin Chem1989; 35: 2186–9.
7.
BeckettGJChapmanBJDysonEHHayesJD. Plasma glutathione S-transferase measurements after paracetamol overdose: Evidence for early hepatocellular damage. Gut1985; 26: 26–31.
8.
ShermanMBassNMCampbellJAHKirschRE. Radioimmunoassay of human ligandin. Hepatology1983; 3: 162–9.
9.
HayesPCHayesJDHusseyAJBouchierIADBeckettGJ. Changes in plasma glutathione S-transferase B1 concentrations after alcohol ingestion in man: A measure of hepatocellular sensitivity to chronic alcohol excess. Clin Chem Enzyme Commun1990; 2: 189–94.
10.
HowieAFPatrickAWFisherBMCollierAFrierBMBeckettGJ. Plasma glutathione S-transferase concentrations after insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in normal subjects and diabetic patients. Diabetic Med1989; 6: 224–7.
11.
BeckettGJHusseyJELaingIHowieAFHayesJDStrangeRCMeasurements of glutathione S-transferase B1 in plasma after birth asphyxia: An early indication of hepatocellular damage. Clin Chem1989; 35: 995–9.
12.
MurrayJMRowlandsBJTrinickTR. Indocyanine green clearance and hepatic function after prolonged anaesthesia; comparison of halothane with isoflurane. Br J Anaesth1992; 68: 168–71.
13.
MurrayJMTrinickTR. Hepatic function and indocyanine green clearance during and after prolonged anaesthesia with propofol. Br J Anaesth1992; 69: 643–4.
14.
SolowayRDSummerskillWHJBoggenstossAH. Clinical biochemical and histological remission of severe chronic active liver disease. Gastroenterol1972; 63: 820–33.
15.
HayesPCBouchierIADBeckettGJ. Glutathione S-transferases in humans in health and disease. Gut1991; 32: 813–18.
16.
HayesPCHusseyAJKeatingJBouchierIADWilliamsRBeckettGJGlutathione S-transferase levels in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis: A more sensitive index of hepatocellular damage than aspartate transaminase. Clin Chim Acta1988; 172: 211–16.
17.
TiainenPKarhiKK. Ultrasensitive time-resolved immunofluorometric assay of glutathione S-transferase alpha in serum. Clin Chem1994; 40: 184–9.
18.
RaggattPR. Duplicates or singletons? An analysis of the need for replication in immunoassay and a computer program to calculate the distribution of outliers, error rate and the precision profile from assay duplicates. Ann Clin Biochem1989; 26: 26–37.
19.
Van der MeulenJHKuipersHDrukkerJ.Relationship between exercise-induced muscle damage and enzyme release in rats. J Appl Physiol1991; 71: 999–1004.
20.
ValentineBABlueJTShelleySMCooperBJ. Increased serum alanine aminotransferase activity associated with muscle necrosis in the dog. J Vet Intern Med1990; 4: 140–3.
FridenJSfakianosPNHargensAR. Blood indices of muscle injury associated with muscle contractions. J Orthop Res1989; 7: 142–5.
23.
AkmalMMassrySG. Reversible hepatic dysfunction associated with nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis. Am J Nephrol1990; 10: 49–52.
24.
SundbergAGMAppelkvistE-LBackmanLDallnerG.Urinary π-class glutathione transferase as an indicator of tubular damage in the human kidney. Nephron1994; 67: 308–16.
25.
BanksREEvansSWTaylorKFBirdHAWhicherJT. Measurement of plasma concentrations of polymorphonuclear elastase-α1 proteinase inhibitor (elastase-α1 antitrypsin) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Interference by rheumatoid factor. Ann Rheum Dis1990; 49: 18–21.
26.
LarssonAKarlsson-ParraASjöquistJ.Use of chicken antibodies in enzyme immunoassays to avoid interference by rheumatoid factors. Clin Chem1991; 37: 411–14.
27.
BorqueLElenaAMasideCRusADel CuraJ.Rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis C virus antibodies. Clin Exp Rheumatol1991; 9: 617–19.
28.
CarrolGJBellMC. IgM class immunoglobulin with high rheumatoid factor activity interferes with the measurement of interleukin 1β. J Rheumatol1991; 18: 1266–9.
29.
MalyakMJoslinFGVerderberELEisenbergSPArendP.IL-1ra ELISA: Reduction and alkylation of synovial fluid eliminates interference by IgM rheumatoid factors. J Immunol Meth1991; 140: 281–8.
30.
GalouGLegrasBRuellandAGrosboisBCloarecL.Problems of C-reactive protein determinations in patients with monoclonal immunoglobulins. Clin Chem1993; 39: 918.
