Measurement of an enzyme marker as an aid to diagnosis of liver transplant rejection

Abstract

A method which assists in the early diagnosis of rejection in a liver transplant recipient comprises measuring an increase in plasma or serum alpha glutathione S-[tranferase]transferase( alpha -GST) from said recipient in the absence of or preceding any change in plasma or serum transaminase. alpha -GST is most suitably measured by enzymeimmunoassay, using a solid phase antibody which is monospecific for alpha -GST. The monospecific antibody cross-reacts with the alpha -GST dimers B1B1, B1B2 and B2B2.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. Method for assisting in early diagnosis of liver transplant rejection, comprising measuring the level of alpha glutathione S transferase in a plasma or serum sample of a liver transplant patient, and comparing said level to a normal level, wherein an increase in said alpha glutathione S transferase level in said liver transplant patient in the absence of or preceding any change in plasma transaminase level or serum transaminase level is indicative of liver transplant rejection. 
     
     
       2. Method of claim 1, comprising measuring said alpha glutathione S-transferase via an enzyme immunoassay. 
     
     
       3. Method of claim 2, wherein said enzyme immunoassay further comprises contacting said sample with a solid phase bound, alpha glutathione S-transferase specific antibody. 
     
     
       4. Method of claim 3, wherein said antibody .[.is not.]. cross reacts with alpha glutathione S transferase dimers B 1  B 1 , B 1  B 2 , and B 2  B 2 . 
     
     
       5. Method of claim 3, wherein said antibody is not cross reactive with either of glutathione S transferase-mu or glutathione S transferase-pi. 
     
     
       6. Method of claim 2, comprising measuring said alpha glutathione S transferase to a limit of 0.75 ng/ml. 
     
     
       7. Method of claim 2, wherein said enzyme immunoassay is carried out in less than 5 hours.