Changes in Free Amino Acids in the Plasma during Hepatic Coma

Abstract

Previous reports frmm various laboratories have ances of protein metabolism, which emphasized the failure to demonstrate consistent and significant biochenjicalchanages during hepatic coma (1-3). However, a cross increase of amino acids in the plasma, urine and spinal fluid (4, 5) and an elevation of ammonia in the blood (6-9) have been observed to accompany hepatic coma. Since diseases of the liver often result in disturb- ' The Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, is a part of the Graduate School of the University of Min- nesota.