[Evaluation of metabolic efficiency of the liver in patients with psoriasis by the antipyrine test].

In 47 patients with generalized psoriasis vulgaris and 23 healthy subjects the effectiveness of the hepatic metabolism reflected by drug biotransformation was assessed with the antipyrine elimination test. In the group of psoriatic patients there were 25 men and 22 women and in the control group--age-matched 12 men and 11 women. The half-time of antipyrine was longer and the clearance index was lower in the patients than those in the control group. The differences were statistically significant. After 2 weeks of PUVA or SUP-therapy the differences were more significant. The findings indicate an impairment of the liver metabolic effectiveness reflected by drug biotransformation in psoriatic patients.