Thermal desorption-gas chromatography of plasma isovaleraldehyde in hepatic encephalopathy in man.

Abstract

The validation of a new assay for the leucine degradion product isovaleraldehyde in biological fluids is described. A gas purge technique was used with trapping of volatile constituents in a Tenax cartridge followed by automated thermal desorption and gas chromatographic analysis. The concentration of isovaleraldehyde during the course of hepatic encephalopathy (80 observations in 48 patients; 25 cirrhotic, 23 fulminant hepatic failure) was significantly increased compared to control subjects (0.58 +/- 0.08 compared to 0.17 +/- 0.02 mol/l; p less than 0.001). However, concentrations in grades 3-4 coma (37 observations) and grades 1-2 coma (30 observations) were similar and were not significantly different from values when encephalopathy was absent (grade 0; 13 observations). These results do not support an important role for isovaleraldehyde in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy.

• Authors: H Al Mardini, C J O'Brien, K Bartlett, R Williams, C O Record
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 165 Issue 1 Pg. 61-71 (May 29 1987) ISSN: 0009-8981 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 3608189 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Aldehydes
• isovalerylaldehyde
• pentanal

Topics

• Aldehydes (blood)
• Chromatography, Gas
• Hepatic Encephalopathy (blood)
• Hepatitis, Viral, Human (blood)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (blood)
• Temperature