The use of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in differentiating liver from bone isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase.

Sixty-one patients with elevated alkaline phosphatase activity due to liver or bone diseases were studied. An attempt was made to identify the origin of the increased alkaline phosphatase by chemical inhibition, by inactivation by heat and urea, and by electrophoretic separation. The results obtained from these procedures were correlated with the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities performed on each patient. We concluded from this study that gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase determination, together with alkaline phosphatase electrophoretic separations, are useful laboratory procedures for accurately identifying the origin of elevated alkaline phosphatase activity.