Urinary Excretion of Glucosiduronic Acid Conjugated 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids in Hepatic Insufficiency

Abstract

In thirteen patients with liver insufficiency the amount of total urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, as well as of the β-glucuronidase hydrolysable 17-hydroxycorticosteroid fraction, was determined. The material consisted of 13 subjects divided into two groups, the first group comprising 8 patients with severe liver insufficiency and the second group consisting of 5 patients with less pronounced signs of deficient liver function. Both groups were found to excrete significantly smaller amounts of total 17-hydroxycorticosteroids than a normal control group. With regard to the β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid conjugated fraction, only the first group of patients seemed to deviate from the control group, showing a subnormal percentage conjugate excretion.