Related Experiment Videos
Glycine conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA): a quantitative test of liver function
K N Furuya1, P R Durie, E A Roberts
1Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To evaluate glycine conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) to the hippurated metabolites, para-aminohippuric acid (PAHA), and para-acetamidohippuric acid (PAAHA) as a quantitative liver function test in patients with liver disease.
Design And Methods:
Serum concentrations of PABA and metabolites were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 24 controls and 50 patients with hepatobiliary disease.
Results:
Hippurate formation was significantly decreased in all patient groups with chronic liver disease versus controls. The hippurate ratio (% hippurated metabolites formed) correlated with severity of disease, serum albumin, and factor VII concentrations. PAHA concentration was a better prognostic indicator than factor VII concentrations in patients with acute liver disease; concentrations of zero correctly predicted a poor outcome in patients with fulminant liver failure.
Conclusions:
Glycine conjugation of PABA may be useful as a quantitative liver function test in patients with hepatobiliary disease and as a prognostic index in patients with fulminant liver failure.