[A study of lysosomal enzyme activities in serum and leukocytes in chronic hepatic disease (author's transl)].

Five lysosomal enzyme activities (arylsulfatase A, alpha-D-mannosidase, alpha-L-fucosidase, hexosaminidase and beta-D-galactosidase) were determined in serum and leucocytes of 30 controls and 114 patients suffering from various liver diseases, including 30 with idiopathic hemochromatosis and 34 with alcoholic cirrhosis. The results show (1) a decrease of the serum arylsulfatase A activity in idiopathic hemochromatosis, (2) an increase of this activity in cholestatic jaundice, and (3) mainly, a sharp rise of the leucocyte lysosomal enzyme activities in the liver diseases studied (chiefly idiopathic hemochromatosis and alcoholic cirrhosis). The mechanism and the meaning of these disturbances are discussed.