Macroenzyme detection by polyethylene glycol precipitation.
BACKGROUND
The presence of macroenzymes can cause significant diagnostic confusion and their detection can involve relatively cumbersome analytical procedures.


METHODS
Using a simplified polyethylene glycol precipitation technique and isoenzyme electrophoresis, this report describes the construction of reference ranges of precipitable activity for each of seven commonly measured enzymes in plasma.


RESULTS
The proposed reference ranges are reported. Since introducing the protocol, 12 cases of macroenzymaemia have been encountered. Three typical case histories are described in some detail.


CONCLUSIONS
The polyethylene glycol precipitation method has thus far proved to be a simple and effective additional test for the detection of macroenzymes when the plasma enzyme activity is elevated.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012016:Reference Values
D004798:Enzymes; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols