| Abstract: | We investigated the significance of assaying plasma glutamine and glutamate concentrations in various liver diseases. Comparison was made with an aminogram in non-alcoholic liver disease. In alcoholic liver diseases, the plasma glutamate concentration showed a statistically significant 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 diseases. The glutamate (Glu)/glutamine (Gln) ratio and plasma gamma-GT 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 may be a useful method to estimate the pathophysiological state of patients with alcoholic liver diseases. |
