The relationship between erythrocyte transketolase activity and the 'TPP effect' in Wernicke's encephalopathy and other thiamine deficiency states.

Abstract

Patients (n = 104) were judged to be thiamine deficient by the criteria of erythrocyte transketolase activity (ETK) less than 0.6 U/g of hemoglobin, or greater than 17% increase in this activity on addition of thiamine pyrophosphate in vitro (TPP effect). ETK activated by TPP in vitro (AETK) was related to ETK by a linear regression of slope greater than or equal to 1, implying that transketolose apoenzyme (apoTK) was constant or decreased as ETK decreased. For most patient groups the value of apoTK was 0.1 U/g and the slope 1.033 to 1.050. In the subgroup of non-vomiting drinkers with Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE), the slope of the linear regression of AETK on ETK was 1.21, so that apoTK decreased as ETK decreased. Comparison of these data is consistent with a difference in the TK of WE drinkers from that of others. Generally, any variation of TPP effect was due only to variation of ETK. We recommend measurement of ETK, without TPP effect, for the assessment of thiamine nutrition.

• Authors: P F Nixon, J Price, M Norman-Hicks, G M Williams, R A Kerr
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 192 Issue 2 Pg. 89-98 (Nov 30 1990) ISSN: 0009-8981 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2073741 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ethanol
• Transketolase
• Thiamine Pyrophosphate

Topics

• Enzyme Activation
• Erythrocytes (enzymology)
• Ethanol (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Thiamine Deficiency (blood, enzymology)
• Thiamine Pyrophosphate (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Transketolase (blood)
• Wernicke Encephalopathy (blood, enzymology)