Total fasting serum bile acids and beta-hexosaminidase in alcoholic liver disease.

Abstract

Total serum bile acid levels and beta-hexosaminidase activity were studied in 22 normal subjects, 35 non-cirrhotic patients with acute alcohol intoxication, 45 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 11 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and surgical portal-systemic shunts. Comparison was made with traditional liver function tests. beta-Hexosaminidase was most frequently elevated in acute alcohol intoxication (94%) while total serum bile acids were elevated in all patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Total serum bile acid levels were found to discriminate most efficiently between acute alcohol intoxication and liver cirrhosis. The combined determination of serum beta-hexosaminidase and total serum bile acids is proposed for evaluating alcoholic liver disease.

• Authors: B Joelsson, B Hultberg, A Isaksson, A Alwmark, P Gullstrand, S Bengmark
• Journal: Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry (Clin Chim Acta) Vol. 136 Issue 2-3 Pg. 203-9 (Jan 31 1984) ISSN: 0009-8981 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 6229367 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Bile Acids and Salts
• Hexosaminidases
• beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases

Topics

• Alcoholic Intoxication (blood)
• Bile Acids and Salts (blood)
• Diagnostic Errors
• Fasting
• Hexosaminidases (blood)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic (blood)
• Liver Diseases, Alcoholic (blood)
• Liver Function Tests
• beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases