CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF MEASURING PLASMA-CONCENTRATIONS OF GLUTAMINEAND GLUTAMATE IN ALCOHOLIC LIVER-DISEASES

We investigated the significance of assaying plasma glutamine and glut amate concentrations in various liver diseases. Comparison was made wi th an aminogram in non-alcoholic liver disease. In alcoholic liver dis eases, the plasma glutamate concentration showed a statistically signi ficant elevation compared to the value in non-alcoholic liver diseases . In contrast, the plasma glutamine concentration was elevated in non- alcoholic liver diseases but showed no elevation in alcoholic liver di seases. The glutamate (Glu)/glutamine (Gin) ratio and plasma gamma-CT level correlated well in patients of alcoholic liver diseases. The Glu /Gln ratio became normal after alcohol abstinence. The results suggest that measuring the plasma concentrations of glutamine and glutamate m ay be a useful method to estimate the pathophysiological state of pati ents with alcoholic liver diseases.