[The gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) as an index for the diagnosis of chronic alcoholic cholestatic hepatitis (author's transl)].

The GGTP is an enzyme localized, in the liver cell, inside microsome. At beginning the use of the GGTP was introduced for the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis; after it was noted as this was steady increased in the cholestasis and in the alcoholism. We have, hence, wanted to experiment if the changing of the level of the GGTP allowed to us a diagnosis of chronic alcoholic hepatitis. Our research is based on seventy-five patients with several liver diseases. It has been noted as the highest levels of the GGTP have appeared in cases of chronic alcoholic hepatitis with signs, histologicals and biochemicals, o cholestasis. In fact we have, on overage, levels of 955 mU/ml in the chronic alcoholic hepatitis with signs of cholestasis and of 135 mU/ml in that without it. In conclusion the GGTP is a good index for the diagnosis of chronic alcoholic cholestatic hepatitis.