Lancet 1987 Feb 7;1(8528):289-91

Enzymological diagnosis of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 by measurement of hepatic alanine: glyoxylate aminotransferase activity.

Danpure CJ, Jennings PR, Watts RW

Abstract
A deficiency of activity of the peroxisomal enzyme alanine:glyoxylate
aminotransferase (AGT,EC 2.6.1.44)has been found in the livers of six patients
with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH), including three in whom the tissue was
obtained by percutaneous needle biopsy. AGT activity, assayed in unfractionated
liver tissue, ranged from 11 to 47% of the mean control value, and appeared to
be related to the clinical severity of PH and to several biochemical variables
which indicate the degree of pathophysiological derangement. There was no
difference between patients and controls in the activities of glutamate:
glyoxylate aminotransferase (GGT, EC 2.6.1.4) or catalase (EC 1.11.1.6). In the
five most severe cases residual AGT activity could be largely accounted for by
the crossover from another enzyme, presumably GGT. PH can be diagnosed using
percutaneous hepatic needle biopsy and assay of AGT, whose activity may be
useful in determining the prognosis and likely severity of the disease.