Serum total glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (t-GOT), mitochondrial GOT (m-GOT)and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) activities were determined in 26 calves and 86 cows as healthy controls and in 232 cases of liver disorders. In addition, the changes in GOT isoenzymes were examined in 4 calves experimentally induced liver damage. GOT isoenzymes were separated both by a simplified column chromatographic method coupled with UV assay and by an enzyme-electrophoretic method. The m-GOT activities of healthy controls by the chromatographic method were about three times higher than those by the electrophoretic method. Clinically, the electrophoretic method was proved to be more practical than the chromatographic method in bovine. The cleaf rise and fall in serum m-GOT activity indicated that the m-GOT and the m-GOT/t-GOT ratio were sensitive markers for experimentally induced hepatic lesions at acute stages in cows. In the clinical cases, m-GOT increased moderately or remarkably in hepatocellular necrosis, liver fibrosis, tumor of the liver and amyloidosis, but it showed little increase in hydropic droplet degeneration, fascioliasis and fatty change of the liver. As the m-GOT/t-GOT ratio had less effect on muscular damage in cows than the individual t-GOT and m-GOT, the ratio was thought to be a very useful diagnostic aid in clinical cases.
A case of interstitial pneumonia accompanying SLE (lupus pneumonia) was reported. Shortness of breath in this patient was aggravating very rapidly even during methyl prednisolone pulse therapy, but the patient was relieved from this symptom soon after double filtration plasma exchange was carried out. We concluded that some cases which are resistant to pulse therapy and whose prognosis is very poor might be saved by plasma exchange.
