Determining hepatic status of a liver transplant recipient by measuring PI glutathione S-transferase

Abstract

Hepatic status of a subject is determined by measuring the level of pi glutathione S-transferase (πGST) in a biological fluid such as bile or plasma from the subject by an immunoassay. An increased level of πGST as compared to a normal range of πGST indicates an abnormal condition of the liver. Measuring πGST level has particular application for determining the hepatic status of a liver transplant recipient because it enables detecting liver transplant rejection at a very early stage after transplantation. The immunoassay is preferably an enzyme immunoassay, and the entire immunoassay can be completed in 2.5 hours. The biological fluid may be diluted with a diluent which contains an effective amount of a protein such as serum albumin to optimize antibody-antigen reaction. When plasma is the fluid, the plasma should be collected and stored prior to the determination in the presence of an anti-coagulant under conditions which permit substantially no haemolysis. The level of alpha glutathione S-transferase (αGST) may also be determined in biological fluid from the subject to facilitate differentiation between graft rejection and non-specific hepatocellular damage.

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