The measurement of α-glutathione-S-transferase enzyme is one of the most sensitive indicators of hepatocellular function. Variation in the glutathione-S-transferase P1 gene clusters has been intensively investigated and polymorphism has been described. The aim of the study was to assess whether an association exists between glutathione-S-transferase P1 gene polymorphism and serum α-glutathione-S-transferase concentrations for the first postoperative day in patients who underwent anaesthesia with sevoflurane.

In all, 54 unrelated patients were enrolled in this study. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental and fentanyl. Vecuronium was used for neuromuscular relaxation before endotracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in a gas mixture containing 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Peripheral venous blood samples to determine serum α-glutathione-S-transferase concentrations were collected before induction (T1), at the end of anaesthesia (T2) and at 24-h postoperatively (T3). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) immunoassay was used to measure α-glutathione-S-transferase levels. Genomic DNA was isolated from serum samples using a genomic DNA purification kit. In order to detect the variants of glutathione-S-transferase P1, polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was employed.

Early postoperative serum α-glutathione-S-transferase levels for all patients were significantly increased when compared with preanaesthetic and 24-h postoperatively (P < 0.05). Serum α-glutathione-S-transferase concentrations, in individuals with glutathione-S-transferase P1 Ile105Val genotypes (heterozygote gene), remained elevated at 24 h (P < 0.05), whereas levels in individuals with glutathione-S-transferase P1 Ile105Ile (wild gene) decreased (P > 0.05).

Although α-glutathione-S-transferase levels were elevated in all patients after sevoflurane anaesthesia, levels remained high at 24 h in patients with glutathione-S-transferase P1 Ile105Val genotypes compared to controls.