[Effect of various liver diseases on the activity of 2 subtypes of cytochrome P-450].

The elimination of caffeine from the plasma and the elimination of metamizol-metabolites in urine were determined in 37 patients with different liver diseases. In severe liver diseases the demethylation of caffeine as well as the metabolism of metamizol is significantly reduced. The extent of reduced elimination capacity depends on the severity of the disease rather than on the type of disease. In patients with liver cirrhosis the determination of synthesis capacity and of humoral activity (s. tab. I) is suitable to evaluate the capacity of the cytochrome P-450 system. In noncirrhotic diseases only the activity of liver disease (tab. I.) determines the extent of reduced biotransformation capacity. Beside biotransformation-phase I, the acetylation--phase II biotransformation--also appears to be reduced.