|
KMID : 0378019780210030045
|
|
New Medical Journal
1978 Volume.21 No. 3 p.45 ~ p.55
|
|
|
Re-evaluation of the Usefulness of Thymol Turbidity Test
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
The thymol turbidity test (TTT) has been is world-wide use as a liver function test devise for more than 30 years since it was designed by Maclagan in 1944. The test has drawn criticism as to its usefulness, being overwhelmed by the great reputation on the diagnostic value of transaminase activity by Karmen et al. It was recommended by ASCP Council on Clinical Chemistry in 1966 and again by Kim and Barnet in 1973 that TTT should be discarded as a routine laboratory procedure. The author reviewed the laboratory results of 4,521 cases of the liver function tests taken by the Hang Yang University Hospital from May, 1972 through June, 1977, which contained TTT, to re-evaluate the usefulness of TTT in comparison with GPT, GOT, AP, bilirubin, globulin and A/G ratio. The re-evaluation was made on the assumption that transaminase is the most sensitive test. Those showed normalcy in both TTT and LFT as Group I , those abnormality in TTT while reacting normally in LFT, as Group II, those normalcy in TTT while reacting abnormally in LFT as Group III, and those abnormalcy in both TTT and LFT as Group IV. 1. When the values of normalcy in TTT were rated on 5 units in comparing TTT and GPT, the shares of Group I , II , III, and IV in the total of 4, 521 cases were given as 53. 7%, 23. 2 %, 19.7% and 13.4%. When it was rated on 7 units, the shares were 64%, 12.9%, 12.3% and 10.8%. The values of abnormality in GPT as shown according to degrees of turbidity were 15.2% on 0-5 units, 16.0% on 0-7 units, and 45.6% on over 5 units, constituting 23.1% of the total 4, 521 cases. When the values of normalcy was shifted from 0-5 units to 0-7 units, those in Group II, which posed most problems in clinic diagnosis were reduced to 12.9% from 23.2%, while the abnormality rate of GPT showed a slight increase to 16% from 15.3%. It appeared clinically favorable, therefore, to set the ceiling of normalcy in TTT at 7 units. It is also shown that the higher the turbidity of TTT is, the greater will be the rate of abnormality of GPT. 2. When the values of normalcy in the comparison of TTT and GOT were rated on 5 units, the shares of Group I, II , III and IV in the total of 4, 521 cases were 51. 0%, 21.2%, 11.3%, and 16.4%. When rated on 7 units they were 61.2%, 15.9% and 11.8%. The rate of abnormality in GOT as shown according to degrees of turbidity were 18.0% on 0-5 units, constituting 27.7% of the total 4,521. When the values of normalcy in TTT was shifted from 0-5 units to 0-7 units, those in Group II, which caused most problems were reduced markedly to 15.9% from 21.2%, while the rate of abnormality in GOT showed only a slight rise to 20.6% from 18%. So, it appeared clinically favorable to set the ceiling of normalcy in TTT to 7 units. The higher the turbidity of TTT is, the greater the rate of abnormality in GOT will be, it was also shown. The rates of abnormality in GPT and GOT were 23.1% and 27.7%. The latter was slightly more sensitive. 3. When TTT was compared with AP, bilirubin, globulin, and A/G ratio the results similar to the comparison with transaminase were obtained. The AP and bilirubin tended to show somewhat higher value when tested by this laboratory.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|
|