Prolyl hydroxylase activity in liver and serum of rats and human subjects intoxicated by chronic administration of ethanol.

It was found that chronic intoxication of rats with ethanol results in an increase in prolyl hydroxylase activity in liver and serum of the investigated animals. Similar effects have been observed in some alcoholic patients. We hope that the assay of prolyl hydroxylase in serum or in liver biopsy samples might be useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of the tendency of some individuals to develop liver cirrhosis.