Transaminase activity after codeine administration.

THE quantitative and serial changes that occur in serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) activity during the course of a myocardial infarction are well recognized. Changes in SGOT activity have been observed in other diseases such as hepatitis and pancreatitis (Wroblewski and LaDue, '955; Chinsky, Shmagranoff and Sherry, 1956) and after the administration of drugs such as chlorpromazine, pyrazinamide and opiates (quoted by Wroblewski, Ross and Gregory, I960). Foulk and Fleisher (I957) showed that opiates given as codeine produced quite a marked increase in SGOT activity in each of six patients who had had a cholecystectomy and who had subsequent abdominal pain. They were unable to account for this phenomenon but considered that transient biliary obstruction due to codeine-induced spasm of the bile ducts and duodenum was probably responsible. They concluded that in the interpretation of a raised SGOT activity the possible role of opiates administered in the preceding 24 hours should be considered. In view of these findings it was decided to study experimentally the effect of codeine phosphate on the SGOT andI SGPT (serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase) activities in a number of patients.