[Liver biopsy and blood serum enzyme content in patients with rheumatic heart disease with circulatory insufficiency].

Puncture biopsy of the liver and a comparison of the blood serum enzymes-lactate-dehydrogenase and fructose-1-phosphate-aldolase-with the nature of histomorphological alterations were effected in 18 patients with rheumatic heart diseases, circulatory insufficiency of the II-III degree and rheumatism in the I-II stage of activity. Morphological changes in the liver were not specific, being characterized largely by congestive manifestations and deranged intrahepatic circulation. With a declining level of glycogen and nucleoproteins in the hepatocytes the blood serum of such patients showed an increased content of fructose-1-phosphate-aldolase and lactate-dehydrogenase. Histomorphological analysis of the puncture material facilitate the evaluation of the nature of intravital changes in the liver of patients with different degrees of circulatory insufficiency.