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acetoacetate in serum/plasma

Normal range: 1) < 3 mg/dL (0.3 mmol/L) [1] 2) 0.2-2.0 mg/dL (2.0-200 umol/L) [2] Clinical significance: - in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), beta-hydroxybutyrate is the predominant accumulated intermediary metabolite & is a better indicator of clinical state than acetoacetate - the beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoactetate ratio is normally 3:1 & will rise to 6-12:1 during ketoacidosis - plasma acetoacetate may actually rise during therapy for DKA due to conversion of beta-hydroxybutyrate Increases: - ketoacidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis - ketosis, starvation, fasting, low carbohydrate diet Method: - quantitative enzymatic method Specimen: 1) plasma (sodium fluoride) 2) collect on ice, deliver to laboratory immediately 3) freeze if not assayed upon receipt

Related

acetoacetate; beta-ketobutyrate; 3-ketobutyrate beta(3)-hydroxybutyrate in blood/plasma/serum ketone bodies in serum/plasma

Specific

acetoacetate+acetone in serum/plasma

General

acetoacetate in body fluid

References

  1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
  2. Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed., W.B. Saunders, 1995