Studies on the in-vitro biotransformation in patients with liver diseases.

Abstract

The activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) was determined in the human liver bioptate of 53 patients with chronic liver diseases. Remarkable are the lower values of ECOD in the hepatoses, chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis as compared to patients with normal histology or residual hepatitis. The decline in the activity of ECOD in the patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis has to be seen in connection with parenchymatous necrosis, nodular liver transformation and intracinar fibrosis. For the time being it is not possible to give a satisfactory explanation of the decrease in the ECOD activity of the hepatoses.