Studies on alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes. Relation to gamma-glutamyltransferase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes.

Gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GT) and isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) have been studied in 282 cases with increased S-ALP and in 18 chronic alcoholics with normal routine liver tests. There was a high degree of correlation between S-GT and the bile (alpha 1) and liver (alpha 2) fractions of S-ALP. Fractionation of alkaline phosphatases sometimes yielded clinical information, which could not be obtained by determinations of S-ALP and S-GT only. The presence of alpha 1-ALP and increased S-GT appeared to be more sensitive indicators of ethanol-induced liver involvement than other liver tests, including LDH-5/LDH-4 ratios.