THE AZORUBIN S TEST OF LIVER FUNCTION; AN EVALUATION, WITH A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE BROMSULPHALEIN AND HIPPURIC ACID TESTS

Abstract

The Azorubin S test was performed on 14 normal subjects and a comparative study with the bromsulphalein and hippuric acid tests was conducted on 19 cases of hepatic cirrhosis, 3 cases of toxic hepatitis, 4 cases of early chronic hepatitis and 1 case of fatty metamorphosis of the liver. Using a duodenal tube, the normal time for the appearance of a deep cherry red color in the bile was found to be 15 to 30 mins. after intraven. inj. of azorubin S. In hepatic disease the excretion of dye by the liver was either delayed or diminished in amt., or both. The Azorubin S test was equally as reliable as the bromsulphalein test and superior to the hippuric acid test in cases of cirrhosis; in cases of early chronic hepatitis, the azorubin 8 test alone revealed impairment of liver functions.