Study of guanosine deaminase in infantile viral acute hepatitis, physiologic jaundice of the newborn and cord blood

Abstract

The guanosine deaminase (GD) is an enzyme involved in DNA metabolism. It was studied in groups of children with viral acute hepatitis, physiologic neonatal jaundice and cord blood, comparing them to a group of normal children. We found an increased activity of GD in acute hepatitis (p < 0,001), mild increase in physiologic neonatal jaundice and normal values in cord blood. GD may be a good test of hepatic function for the diagnosis and the follow-up of disease.