[The liver and metabolism of drugs].

Even if all problems of liver metabolism have not yet been clarified, it is nevertheless established that medicaments induce enzymes in the hepatic cells which influence the metabolism of drugs. Because their effect is unspecific, these enzymes can catabolize many drugs with different structures. About 200 substances are known which induce such enzymes. Among them, for example, is phenobarbital. It is therefore used in the treatment of some forms of icterus with free bilirubin and for Cushing's syndrome. But enzyme induction can also lead to acute intermittent porphyrias and disturbances of the phosphorus-calcium metabolism. Extreme catabolism of a drug can be caused by overinduction of enzymes due to the administration of several incompatible medicaments.