The Significance of the Serum Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase Activity Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

The serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase rose two to 20 times normal in 74 of 75 patients who had acute transmural myocardial infarction. The height of the enzymatic activity was roughly proportional to the size of the infarct. Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase is unaffected by angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, heart failure, or digitalis in the absence of active heart cell injury. Experimental myocardial infarction is followed consistently by a two to twenty-fold increase in serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase activity. Increase in the serum activity of this enzyme appears to be a useful index of the presence of active heart muscle injury.