[Serum monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disease. I].

Aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum MAO activity (sMAO) in chronic liver disease. sMAO has been assayed by benzylamine colorimetric method. No statistically significant differences of sMAO values have been found between controls and acute viral hepatitis or various diseases patients. Differences instead between controls and patients sMAO values (chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis and liver cirrhosis) were statistically significant (p less than 0.005).