Transaminase Levels in Azotemia

Abstract
To the editor: We read with interest the article by Cohen and associates in the March issue (Ann Intern Med 84:275-280, 1976). This report, and others (1-3), establishes that markedly low serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels are frequent occurrences among azotemic individuals. However, except in the report by Wolf and colleagues (1), azotemic sera assayed by a diazonium salt method have not shown low SGOT values (4, 5). This phenomenon has been reported mainly as occurring with the SMA 12/60 AutoAnalyzer (Technicon Instruments Corp., Tarrytown, New York) using a method based on ultraviolet absorption at 340 nM by NADH