Serum glycoprotein: glycosyl transferase activity in patients with renal disease.

Glycoprotein: galactosyl and glycoprotein: sialic acid transferase activities were measured in the serum of patients with minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome, acute renal failure, and chronic renal insufficiency of varying severity. The activity of galactosyl transferase was elevated in all patients but one. Sialic acid transferase activity was increased in the patient group as a whole, but the magnitude of the increase was smaller and less predictable compared to the galactosyl transferase enzyme. The physiologic consequence of increased glycosyl transferase activity in serum is discussed.