[Perspectives of clinical biochemistry in hepatology]

In a survey the trend of the biochemical investigations in hepatology is analysed. Together with the histologic diagnosis the function of the liver parenchyma must be determined, in which cases tolerance tests which do not only determine the function of the liver parenchyma, but also the changed functions of other organs are of importance. On the basis of own findings is shown that the ammonia metabolism in patients with hepatic encephalopathy is also disturbed in musculature. In the serum of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis a factor could be isolated which apart from the inhibition of the utilisation of glucose has also another metabolic effect. In future we might expect an intensified search for such active metabolites. Investigations concerning the salicylaemia in patients with liver cirrhosis and experimental findings about changes of the O-demethylase activity in the fatty degeneration of the liver show the great significance of the pharmacokinetic analyses in the clinical hepatology.