Serum transaminase levels after experimental paracetamol-induced hepatic necrosis.
The relationship between serum transaminase levels and the extent of paracetamol-induced liver necrosis has been investigated in the rat. Three methods of histological quantitation were used to assess of necrosis--arbitrary grading, point counting, and the image-analysis computer. Highly significant correlations were obtained between the three methods and all were found to be reproducible. A close correlation was found between the extent of hepatic necrosis and the serum ASAT and ALAT 24 hours after a large dose (4 g/kg) of paracetamol. Likewise, the mean grade of necrosis correlated reasonably well with the serum enzyme levels in the recovery phase at 36 and 72 hours, although the transaminase level for a given degree of necrosis was considerably lower at 72 hours than at 24 hours. These findings suggest that serum transaminase levels gives a reliable indication of the severity of hepatic necrosis if the time of ingestion of the paracetamol is known and taken into account.
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000633:toxicity*; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood*
D000082:Acetaminophen; D000637:Transaminases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase