Serum enzyme determination in the study of liver disease in dogs.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), 5'-nucIeotidase (5'-ND) and cholin esterase (CHE) were determined in the sera of 37 dogs with various liver diseases. The values for these parameters were compared with the values for aspartate and alanin aminotransferase (ASAT, ALAT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase γ and albumin (ALB). GLDH was found to be the most sensitive enzyme parameter (sensitivity 92 %), its values also reflecting the degree of liver cell necrosis well. Next in sensitivity followed ASAT and ALP. SDH values were correlated to ALAT values but had a low sensitivity (43 %). 5'-ND discriminated markedly better between biliary tract disturbance and other lesions than ALP and somewhat better than γ-GT. CHE had a wide reference range, low sensitivity, and was not correlated to ALB. Single determinations of CHE may thus not be of diagnostic value in dogs.