Enzymes in biofluids for diagnosis of diseases

Alkaline phosphatase, alanine amino transferase, aspartate amino transferase and proteins were investigated in C.S.F from cases of pyogenic and non-pyogenic meningitis and controls; ascitic fluid from patients with cirrhosis of liver, tuberculous abdomen and malignancy; and pleural fluid. Same investigations were done in the corresponding blood-sera in respect of fluids other than C.S.F. Levels of proteins were elevated by 65.7% in C.S.F. in pyogenic meningitis and 27.7% in non-pyogenic meningitis compared to controls. Levels of alkaline phosphatase were found to be increased to 57% in pyogenic meningitis with a decrease of 17.8% in the non-pyogenic type while those of ALT and AST were found to be increased by 59% and 103% respectively in the non-pyogenic type. If the levels of the 3 enzymes of fluids other than C.S.F. were compared, alkaline phosphatase levels were almost double in ascitic fluid in cirrhosis and those of ALT and AST were greater in malignancy and tuberculous pleural effusion. Both alkaline phosphatase and ALT levels were low in ascites in tuberculous abdomen with the least ALT values.