DETERMINATION OF PLASMA ALPHA-GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASES IN CHRONIC ALCOHOL ABUSERS - RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL INTAKE AND LIVER INVOLVEMENT

alpha-Gluthathione-S-transferases (alpha-GSTs) are enzymes involved in the cellular detoxifying processes. elevated circulating alpha-GSTs a ctivity is considered to be an early index of liver damage. Glutathion e (GSH) is the substrate for alpha-GST action. The aims of our study w ere: (1) to evaluate plasma GSH levels and alpha-GST activity in chron ic alcohol abusers with or without liver cirrhosis: (2) to define the relationship between these two biochemical parameters; (3) to establis h their clinical relevance in patients with alcohol abuse and/or liver damage. We studied 69 subjects (18 healthy subjects and 51 chronic al cohol abusers: 29 without liver cirrhosis and 22 with). Plasma alpha-G ST activity was determined on baseline samples and every following day for a total of 10 days in five alcoholics by HEPKIT (Alpha-Biotech. B iotrin international, Dublin. Ireland). GSH was determined on ail subj ects' baseline samples by fluorescent high-performance liquid chromato graphy, Alcohol intake was evaluated in all patients by determining bl ood-alcohol concentrations. Significant increases in plasma alpha-GSTs were observed in 9/29 (31%) alcoholics and 3/22 (13.6%) cirrhotics ir respective of their alcohol intake. GSH was significantly lower than n ormal values (P less than or equal to 0.001) in all alcoholics with or without cirrhosis (controls 10.4 +/- 4.8; alcoholics without cirrhosi s 3.9 +/- 1.4; alcoholics with cirrhosis 3.3 +/- 1.6). No correlation was observed between plasma alpha-GST and GSH levels. Our data indicat e that: (1) alpha-GST activity does not correlate with GSH levels in t he plasma: (2) alpha-GSTs do not have clinical relevance as markers of recent alcohol intake: (3) in cirrhotics, alpha-GST does not provide more information than other liver function tests. However, plasma alph a-GST determination may be useful in selecting a subgroup of alcoholic s in whom routine biochemical markers of liver damage are within refer ence ranges.