scholarly journals Bilirubin Metabolism — Preliminary Investigation

Author(s):  
A. Barbeau ◽  
G. Breton ◽  
B. Lemieux ◽  
R.F. Butterworth

SUMMARY:In our studies, high total bilirubin values in the plasma were noted in cases of Friedreich's ataxia. A bimodal distribution of the values indicated the possible presence of two subgroups of patients. In these kindred, we demonstrated an elevation in unconjugated bilirubin with features similar to those reported in Gilbert's syndrome: normal liver function tests, elevation after fasting and day to day variability. We also report preliminary experiments indicating that bilirubin levels may be taurine dependent. We postulate that the defect could be a secondary component of the ataxic disease, possibly indicating a defect in membrane transport.

Author(s):  
Sundeep Singh Saluja ◽  
Vaibhav Kumar Varshney ◽  
Vidya Sharada Bhat ◽  
Phani Kumar Nekarakanti ◽  
Asit Arora ◽  
...  

Diagnosis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wycliffe Mbagaya ◽  
Joanne Foo ◽  
Ahai Luvai ◽  
Claire King ◽  
Sarah Mapplebeck ◽  
...  

AbstractMacrocomplexes between immunoglobins and aspartate aminotransferase (macro-AST) may result in persistently increased AST concentration. The presence of macro-AST in patients has been implicated in unnecessary investigations of abnormal liver function tests. We report the case of a 44-year-old female who presented to the rheumatology clinic with a 12-months’ history of constant widespread pain affecting her limbs and was found to have an elevated AST concentration. Further information from her GP revealed a 14-years’ history of elevated AST with otherwise normal liver function. Previous abdominal ultrasound and two liver biopsies carried out 2 years apart were normal. This prompted further analytical investigation by the biochemistry department which identified macro-AST as the cause. This case illustrates that persistently raised isolated AST concentration with no other abnormal indices may warrant macroenzyme analysis potentially avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations.


Kanzo ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-309
Author(s):  
Yutaka INAGAKI ◽  
Masashi UNOURA ◽  
Nobuyoshi TANAKA ◽  
Yasuhiro KATO ◽  
Kenichi KOBAYASHI ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
S L Allaway ◽  
C D Ritchie ◽  
D Robinson ◽  
T Seear ◽  
R Reznek ◽  
...  

Computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of the liver was undertaken in 17 occasional and 19 heavy drinkers undergoing health screening. The median attenuation value of the liver (CT number) in occasional drinkers with normal liver function tests was 54.4 compared with 25.9 in the heavy drinkers (P < 0.001). Fourteen of the heavy drinkers had a CT number below the lowest value observed in occasional drinkers with normal liver function, indicating reduced liver density due to fatty change. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was normal in 36% of these individuals. A rise in CT number was observed in 4 out of 5 heavy drinkers who underwent a second scan after decreasing their alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that CT scanning provides a noninvasive and convenient method of screening for a fatty liver, which occurred to a variable degree in over 70% of the men who admitted to regularly taking 8 or more alcoholic drinks per day.


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