ANTIPYRINE CLEARANCE AND METABOLITE EXCRETION IN SAUDI PATIENTS WITH NONALCOHOLIC CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

In this report, we examined the hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in 34 Saudi patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and in 21 healthy S audi subjects by measuring antipyrine clearance (APCl) and the fractio n (%) of antipyrine (AP) dose excreted in urine unchanged (f(AP)) and in the form of its main metabolites: 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine (f(HMAP )) norantipyrine (f(NORAP)), and 4-hydroxyantipyrine (f(4OHAP)) While APCl, f(HMAP), f(NORAP), and f(4OHAP) were Significantly reduced in pa tients with CLD, f(AP) was significantly higher in these patients. Cor relation was observed between serum albumin and APCl, f(HMAP), f(NORAP ), or f(4OHAP) and between each two of the last three variables. We co nclude that Saudis with CLD have uniform rather than selective reducti on of hepatic microsomal enzyme activity and that serum albumin is a s ensitive indicator of this activity.