Ornithine carbamyl transferase in Reye's syndrome.

Serum levels of ornithine carbamyl transferase activities were determined in the acutely ill and convalescent Reye's syndrome patients and in their parents. Acutely ill Reye's syndrome patients had elevated levels of serum ornithine carbamyl transferase activities as compared to those in controls. The convalescent Reye's syndrome patients and their parents had normal levels of serum ornithine carbamyl transferase activities. These results suggest that an inborn metabolic defect was not responsible for the increase in serum ornithine carbamyl transferase activities in Reye's syndrome.