[A new method for the determination of xanthine oxidase activity by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection].

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A non-radiochemically sensitive method for the determination of xanthine oxidase (XO , EC 1 .1 . 3 .22 ) activity is devised . We have enabled to detect the low activity of XO in human serum or peripheral lymphocyte lysates by the pretreatment of samples with activated charcoal , and by the employment of a sensitive high -performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection . This method was shown to be reliable and reproducible , and allowed us to evaluate XO activity in various clinical samples . XO activity in serum , but not in peripheral lymphocytes reflected the degree of liver damage . No relationship was found between serum XO activity and serum uric acid . No XO activity was detected in sera from patients with hereditary xanthinuria . These results suggested this method to be quite useful for rapid diagnosis of the patients with abnormal purine metabolism , especially in that with hereditary xanthinuria .