Übersichtsreferate

Abstract

Biochemical indicators of the degree or activity of the fibrotic transformation of the chronically injured liver (parameters of fibrosis) were summarized and their diagnostic usefulness on the basis of the pathobiochemical distortion of hepatic connective tissue metabolism critically evaluated. Specificity, sensitivity and practicability of the tests of the majority of the presently available parameters of liver fibrosis are unsatisfactory. Comparatively the best diagnostic informations are obtained by the determinations of the activities of collagen-protyl-hydroxylase in liver biopsy specimens and collagen peptidase r monoamine oxidase or N-acetyl· -D -glucosaminidase in serum. However, the disease -(fibrosis-) related and organ-(liver-)related specificity of these serum parameters also is low in part