Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1979-5-23
pubmed:abstractText
Previous cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that hepatic coma is associated with abnormally high levels of plasma free tryptophan. Establishment of a more definitive relationship between this biochemical abnormality and hepatic coma requires an evaluation of biochemical changes in individual patients as they undergo alterations in the function of their central nervous systems. The present report is an evaluation of tryptophan and substances believed to influence its entry into the brain in six patients whose clinical status progressed from hepatic coma to complete recovery. Consistent significant decreases in plasma free tryptophan and free fatty acids were demonsrated to occur as the patients recovered. No consistent changes, however, were found in the plasma levels of the amino acids which have been reported to compete with tryptophan for transport across the blood-brain barrier, except for leucine which was significantly decreased in all six patients upon recovery from coma. Assay of lumbar cerebrospinal fluid for both tryptophan and the serotonin metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), showed no consistent changes as the patients recovered from hepatic coma.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0002-9610
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
137
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
235-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1979
pubmed:articleTitle
A longitudinal study of tryptophan involvement in hepatic coma.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article