URINARY EXCRETION OF AMINO ACIDS IN LIVER DISEASE 1

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Abstract
Urinary excretion rates of 3 to 15 amino acids were studied in 25 patients with liver disease. The majority of the patients had subacute or chronic cirrhosis. 38% of the total number of urinary amino acid detns. were abnormal, with 20% elevated and 18% low values in 22 of the patients studied. 67.5% of the high urinary values were found in the patients with the acute, subacute, or chronic stage of cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular damage and jaundice. 69% of the low values occurred in patients with subacute, chronic or healing liver disease without significant jaundice at the time of study. Serial studies in three patients demonstrated changes in excretion levels with improvement or progression of the disease. The urinary excretion rates in general were not of prognostic significance. The majority of the values obtained for argi-nine, aspartic acid, threonine, and tryptophan were normal. 5% or more of the excretion rates of methionine, tyrosine, and valine were high. Almost half the lysine and histidine values were low. Changes in rates of deamination, conjugation, or utilization were suggested as possible mechanisms in the changes encountered.