IMMUNOGLOBULIN-COMPLEXED ASPARTATE-AMINOTRANSFERASE

We report a case of increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST, EC 2.6. 1. 1; GOT) in a 17-year-old girl which persisted for 3 years. The pat ient was healthy, but a high level of serum AST was detected during a school health check. Further examination revealed that AST was increas ed to as high as 259 IU/l while alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was nor mal. Immunoelectrosyneresis and immunoprecipitation methods revealed t hat this atypical AST combined with IgG - kappa, lambda globulin and f ormed macromolecular complexes. Including the present case, 26 cases o f IgG-complexed AST have been reported. It is important to be aware of this syndrome, and thereby avoid unnecessary examinations and therapi es.