Isoenzymes of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase in chronic hepatitis

Using class-specific fluorogenic substrates, the activities of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes were determined in the sera of pa tients with chronic hepatitis. The activity of the total alcohol dehydrogen ase and indicator enzymes of liver damage were also investigated. We found a statistically significant increase of class I alcohol dehydrogenase isoen zymes in the total tested group which included those with the viral hepatit is. The (2-fold) increase in the activity of class I isoenzymes was similar to the increase of aminotransferases. The serum activity of class II isoen zymes was unchanged. Here an increase in total enzyme activity was not stat istically significant. Class I isoenzymes and total enzyme activity correla ted well with aminotransferases. These results demonstrate that serum activ ity of class I ADH measured with fluorogenic substrates confirms liver cell damage and may be useful in the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis.