[Serum enzyme alterations during diabetic ketoacidosis. Prospective study of the behaviour of AP, AsAT, AIAT, and GGPT in 24 cases (author's transl)].

Because of the scarcity of data on the changes of serum enzymes during diabetic ketoacidosis, the authors have prospectively studied the alterations of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP), alkaline phosphatase (AP), aspartate aminotransferase (AsAT), and alanine aminotransferase (AIAT) in this metabolic disturbance. The most significant finding was the frequent increase of AP activity on admission, with a systematic fall of the serum levels within the first 24 hours (p less than 0.001). This phenomenon was negatively correlated with patients' age (p less than 0.05), and the same occurred with the bone isoenzyme of AP (p less than 0.01). The remaining enzymes studies were always normal, thus suggesting that any increase of the serum levels of GGTP, AsAT, and AIAT found in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis must arise the suspicion of an associated disturbance.