Which catalyzes the reversible transmination reaction in which glutamic acid and oxaloacetic acid interact to form aspartic acid and ?-ketoglutaric acid, is present in high concentration in a number of tissues, notably in heart muscle, striated muscle, liver, kidney, and brain. The normal serum level of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity is reported to be constant and independent of diurnal variation and other factors. Clinical and experimental studies suggest that SGOT is excreted in bile by the liver.
Recent reports indicate the acceptance of SGOT as a specific test for the diagnosis of- acute myocardial infarction. In congestive heart failure without infarction SGOT values have been reported to be within normal limits.
The author has studied the SGOT activity in patients with cardiac and other diseases and reports the following observations:
1) The SGOT level was abnormally elevated in one patient with an acute myocardial infarction and was within normal limits in another. Subsequent determinations in each patient revealed the SGOT level to decrease thus indicating that as a diagnostic test serial determinations are more important than a single determination. Such a decrease, even though the initial value is within mormal limits, may be of diagnostic significance.
2) Two patients having attacks of paroxysmal auricular tachycardi;&associated with congestive heart failure were examined. The SGOT level was elevated during the paroxysmal attack and a striking decrease in the level was found after the tachycardia was controlled.
Because of findings in congestive heart failure, I am unable to say that the paroxysmal tachycardia was the principal cause of the elevated SGOT value but it certainly seems to have somewhat responsible.
3) The SGOT level was elevated in 7 of 15 patients with congestive heart failure. After compensation resulting from the use of digitalis, the SGOT activity decreased. I interpret these findings as indicating the role of congestion of the liver in patients with congestive heart failure.
4) Patients with cerebral Hemorrhage, acute glomerulonephritis, Hypertension, and nephrosis were studied,
The SGOT activity was normal in all patients.
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