Pseudodeficiency of glutamine in infant liver disease.
Gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) is an early marker for cholestasis and has the capability of glutamine-deamidation. Two infants with elevated serum gamma-GT had a decreased serum glutamine. A time course of glutamine and glutamate concentration changes was performed. This revealed a time dependent decrease of glutamine far below the normal lower limit while glutamate increased above the normal upper limit. In conclusion, increased in vitro gamma-GT can cause pseudodeficiency of glutamine. To avoid pitfalls, physicians should inform the laboratory on accompanying pathologies.
Vermeulen
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Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48129 Münster, Germany.
Marquardt
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T
Häberle
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J
D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005973:Glutamine / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase