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Alterations in Serum Naphthylamidase Isozymes during Treatment with Oral Contraceptives

Nature volume 214, pages 1252–1253 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

THERE are a number of reports of disturbances in liver function in women using oral contraceptives1–3. Robertson4 has recently shown that oral contraceptives affect some serum protein fractions including serum cholin-esterase. We have found that alterations in the serum naphthylamidase (leucine aminopeptidase) isozymes provide a very sensitive indication of disturbed liver metabolism5. One particular electrophoretic isozyme component (A in Fig. 1) is present in the sera of all individuals. The sera of some individuals contain a slower migrating zone (B) (ref. 6). In apparently healthy individuals this zone is rather weak, but marked increases have been found in obstructive jaundice6, in burn injuries (unpublished results) and in patients treated with phenothiazine derivatives5. We have studied serum naphthylamidase variations in women treated with oral contraceptives.

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References

  1. Fawcett, J. W., and Pedersen, D. L., Brit. Med. J., ii, 755 (1964).

  2. Sotaniemi, E., Kreus, K. E., and Scheinin, T. M., Brit. Med. J., ii, 1264 (1964).

  3. Larsson-Cohn, U., Brit. Med. J., i, 1414 (1965).

  4. Robertson, G. S., Lancet, i, 232 (1967).

  5. Beckman, L., and Wetterberg, L., Acta Genet., Basle (in the press).

  6. Beckman, L., Björling, G., and Christodoulou, C., Acta Genet., Basle, 16, 223 (1965).

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  8. Beckman, L., Isozyme Variations in Man, 75 (Basle, 1966).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Chemistry,

    G. ARTURSON & L. BECKMAN

  2. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Uppsala, Sweden

    B. H. PERSSON

Authors
  1. G. ARTURSON
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  2. L. BECKMAN
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  3. B. H. PERSSON
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ARTURSON, G., BECKMAN, L. & PERSSON, B. Alterations in Serum Naphthylamidase Isozymes during Treatment with Oral Contraceptives. Nature 214, 1252–1253 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2141252a0

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