Evidence for Hypertyraminemia in Reye's Syndrome

[摘要] Utilizing a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay, plasma and urine tyramine were measured in 14 consecutive patients with liver biopsy-proven Reye's syndrome. Plasma tyrosine was measured in 11 of these patients. The results revealed significant ( P < .003) elevation in plasma (3.4 ± .52 ng/ml) (mean ± SEM) and urine (1.00 ± .26 mg/24 hr) tyramine as well as plasma tyrosine (204 ± 52.5 µmole/liter) at the onset of the disease when compared to the levels of tyramine and tyrosine in a group of hospitalized patients without hepatic disorders. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between plasma tyramine and days in coma ( r = .86; P < .001), and between plasma tyramine and tyrosine ( r = 0.80; P < .001). These data suggest that there is a substantial disturbance of tyrosine metabolism in Reye's syndrome and that the accumulation of this amino acid and its metabolite, tyramine, may contribute to the encephalopathy of this disease.

[学科分类] 儿科学