[A new approach to the diagnosis of cholestasis by the activity of copper-containing enzymes].

A reciprocal type of the relationship between superoxide dismutase (SOD) and hepatic ceruloplasmin levels in the liver and plasma has been demonstrated. This acts as an integrating mechanism of antioxidant resistance in hepatobiliary diseases. The value of SOD/ceruloplasmin ratio is presented which was low in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic cholestatic hepatitis. A statistical significance for the differences between biochemical indices of cholestasis (bilirubin, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase) was less than for SOD/ceruloplasmin ratio. The latter proved more informative in the diagnosis of cholestasis.