| Description |
Hypertransaminasemia, increased serum transaminases, is a recognized side-effect of heparin. The potential clinical significance and mechanism of this side-effect remains to be determined. Hypertransaminasemia associated with heparin has not been reported to produce clinical illness; however, the determination of transaminase levels is an established diagnostic aid for pulmonary embolism, hepatic damage and myocardial infarction which could be misdiagnosed in the presence of heparin administration. Likewise, transaminase levels can be valuable prognostic and monitoring aids in certain rheumatic diseases, which may be lost in the patients receiving heparin. In their original observation of this phenomenon, Sonnenblick, et al noted a transient rise in patients' serum transaminase values during a course of full-dose heparin therapy. This prospective study demonstrated that 10 of 14 patients had elevated serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels during a regimen of therapeutic heparinization, and return to normal values with cessation of therapy. Maximum transaminase elevations were 3 to 5 times normal values and were not associated with subjective symptoms. Levels of SGPT were higher than those of SGOT, suggesting a hepatic origin for the hypertransaminasemia. the objectives of this study were threefold: 1.) To determine the incidence of elevated serum enzyme (SGPT, SGOT and LDH) levels attributable to the administration of heparin to adult medical and surgical patientsd; 2.) To characterize the observed onset, duration and course of the heparin induced rise in serum enzymes; and 3.) To delineate differences between pork instestinal and beef lung mucosal heparin in the frequency or extent of the induced rise in serum enzymes. |
