Changes in postheparin lipolytic activity in liver diseases.

The activity of the lipolytic enzymes lipoprotein lipase and postheparin esterase is inhibited in chronic liver diseases and postheparin esterase activity is often practically zero. In acute liver diseases postheparin esterase activity is low, but returns to normal as the patient recovers. Its determination can therefore be used to evaluate the course of the disease. The administration of sex hormones (testosterone) is followed in cirrhotic patients by a percentually significantly higher increase in postheparin esterase activity than in healthy subjects.