B. Hultberg et al., PLASMA BETA-HEXOSAMINIDASE ISOENZYME-A AND ISOENZYME-B IN PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL INFARCTION, Clinica chimica acta, 244(1), 1996, pp. 35-44
We determined plasma activity of the isoenzymes of beta-hexosaminidase
(Hex) in 151 patients with cerebral infarction, since earlier finding
s have shown a relation between Hex isoenzymes and risk factors for va
scular disease in normal subjects. Compared with 206 control subjects,
an elevated level of plasma Hex isoenzymes was found in patients with
cerebral infarction, particularly females. However, there was no rela
tion to the clinical subtypes of diagnosis or to the presence of any r
isk factors for vascular disease, such as carotid artery stenosis, maj
or potential cardio-embolic risk factors on echocardiography, hyperten
sion, heart disease, diabetes mellitus or tobacco smoking. Instead, ou
r findings indicate that Hex isoenzymes in patients with cerebral infa
rction are more influenced by the level of serum aspartate aminotransf
erase and blood glucose. The main conclusion is that the liver functio
n as reflected by the level of liver enzymes and glucose metabolism ar
e the major determinants of Hex isoenzymes in plasma.