Abstract
The serum levels of arylesterase (EC 3.1.1.2, ArE) were measured in patients with various liver diseases, by the method using a newly synthesized substrate (No. 4505) which is specific to the enzyme. While serum ArE levels in healthy subjects were 5.96±0.77U/ml (mean±SD), significant decreases in the serum levels of the enzyme were observed in patients with liver diseases: 4.25±0.45 in acute hepatitis; 4.65±0.90 in chronic active hepatitis; 4.34±0.99 in compensated liver cirrhosis; 3.50±1.02 in decompensated liver cirrhosis. In addition, the levels of serum ArE were well-correlated with those of serum cholinesterase and albumin.
These results suggested that the measurement of serum ArE levels would be a good index in evaluating the degree of hepatic damage.
