Hepatic prolyl hydroxylase activity in human liver disease.

The activity of prolyl hydroxylase was measured in liver tissue obtained from a small series of patients with a variety of liver disease. Enzyme levels were marginally elevated in patients with fatty liver and viral hepatitis, conditions not normally associated with progressive fibrosis. In some patients with alcoholic hepatitis and in all patients with cirrhosis and chronic active hepatitis, there was a marked increase in enzyme activity. Patients with conditions characterised by high liver prolyl hydroxylase levels showed histological evidence of extensive hepatic fibrosis and also significant increases in the serum values of glutamate dehydrogenase and gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. Prolyl hydroxylase activity was not detected in serum.