COMPARATIVE VALUE OF BROMSULPHALEIN, SERUM PHOSPHATASE, PROTHROMBIN TIME, AND INTRAVENOUS GALACTOSE TOLERANCE TESTS IN DETECTING HEPATIC DAMAGE PRODUCED BY CARBON TETRACHLORIDE

Abstract

Ten dogs received 0.5 ml. of CCl4/Kg. of body wt., twice a week by stomach tube. The number of doses of CCl4 required to produce an abnormal liver function was fairly constant. Seven dogs developed an abnormal liver function, which became progressively more abnormal as the adm. of CCl4 was continued, after 2 doses; 2 dogs, after 3 doses; and 1 dog, after 4 doses of CCl4. Of the liver function tests studied, the bromsulphalein retention (5 mg. dose) was the most sensitive in detecting the type of damage produced. The serum phosphatase value rose above normal in all except 1 dog at the same time, or shortly after, the bromsulphalein retention became abnormal. This test was practically as sensitive as the dye retention test used. The prothrombin time (one-stage technic) was not as sensitive as the serum phosphatase or bromsulphalein tests, but still detected hepatic damage before the intravenous galactose tolerance test. In some dogs, the prothrombin time and galactose test remained normal throughout the period of CCl4 adm. No change in serum bilirubin was found, when studied in 4 dogs.