A Clinical Evaluation of Some Tests of Liver Function

Abstract

Plasma bilirubin, phosphatase and protein, hip-puric acid excretion test, and levulose tolerance tests were carried out on 100 healthy students and laboratory workers (50 [male][male], 50 [female][female]), 71 patients with liver disease and 62 patients with other diseases. Liver diseases investigated included secondary carcinoma, acute hepatitis, subacute hepatitis, cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. Patients with other diseases showed essentially normal values for the tests given. The patients with liver diseases showed increased bilirubin and phosphatase in the plasma, decreased hippuric acid excretion and increased levulose index. Changes in the plasma protein were of great significance. In cases of hepatitis there is a close correlation between the time jaundice had been present and the change in the albumin-globulin ratio, and the prognosis. Irreparable liver damage had occurred if jaundice persisted for more than 2 mos., or if the plasma albumin had fallen below 2 g. %. In such cases the plasma globulin was usually over 4 g. %.