Specific Determinations of Prothrombin for Evaluation of Liver Function

Abstract

Prothrombin has been determined specifically with a two‐stage assay, based on intrinsic activation of prothrombin, and the values compared with other methods for determination of prothrombin and related factors. It was found that prothrombin values in healthy subjects were not influenced by age or sex. Prothrombin and Normotest values in acutely intoxicated alcoholics, without liver cirrhosis or hepatitis, did not show significant differences from those of normal controls. Prothrombin values in patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis were correlated to Normotest and prothrombin‐proconvertin values. In patients with cirrhosis prothrombin values were correlated to serum albumin concentration, in patients with hepatitis to glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) values, and thus appeared to indicate the degree of liver damage. Prothrombin values obtained with the present two‐stage method are not significantly influenced by anti‐thrombin levels.