Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Liver Diseases

Abstract

Serum adenosine deaminase levels were studied in normal subjects and in patients with liver diseases. A raised activity was observed in patients with viral hepatitis and with early cirrhosis of the liver. A smaller increase was demonstrated in patients with advanced cirrhosis of the liver. No increase in serum adenosine deaminase activity was detected in patients with hepatic coma. The decrease in serum adenosine deaminase activity in the course of cirrhosis from early stage to terminal coma is statistically significant. This decrease is correlated with increasing ammonia levels : the results suggest that increased blood ammonia levels may inhibit serum adenosine deaminase activity.

Adsorptive stripping square‐wave voltammetric behavior of the enzyme adenosine deaminase

“…Elevated enzyme levels can be detected in sera of patients suffering from liver cirrhosis [4]. When the level of this enzyme decreases to very low values in children, an excess of adenosine is produced.…”