In vitro drug metabolism in humans with different liver diseases.

In vitro drug metabolism studies were carried out in 97 patients with liver disease. Drug-metabolizing enzymes (aminopyrine N-demethylase and bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase) were estimated in livers obtained at the time of biopsy with a Menghini needle. The patients were divided into three groups depending on clinical, biochemical, radiologic, and histologic findings: (i) mild (non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction), (ii) moderate (Budd-Chiari syndrome and amebic liver abscess), (iii) severe (acute hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, and cirrhosis). Aminopyrine N-demethylase was decreased in all liver disorders as compared to ten control liver samples. Bilirubin UDP-glucuronyl transferase was significantly lower in all liver disorders except for amebic liver abscess and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction. Both the enzymes in (i) and (ii) groups were significantly higher than in group (iii). A significant correlation was obtained between the two enzymes.