[Enzyme system for dismutation of active forms of oxygen in the liver during chronic impairment of the hepatobiliary system].

A decrease in activity of main enzymes responsible for inactivation of reactive intermediates of oxygen was found in patients with chronic impairments of liver tissue. In chronic active hepatitis superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were decreased, while more pronounced alterations in the enzymatic activity were observed in primary biliary cirrhosis. Alterations in the rate of antioxidation enzymes activity correlated with severity of pathological process: less distinct alterations in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were detected in adipose degeneration of liver tissue as compared with those in active chronic hepatitis, and, especially, in primary biliary cirrhosis. The data obtained by means of correlation analysis suggest that interrelationship of the antioxidation system components was deteriorated. The decrease in activity of these enzymes appears to be related to destructive alterations developed in chronic impairments of liver tissue.