Lysosomal enzymes in sera and granulocytes of patients with chronic liver diseases.

The authors have measured the activity of acid phosphatase, beta-glucuronaidase and cathepsin-D in tthe sera of patients with different liver diseases, and the actvity of beta-glucuronidase in granulocytes and the rate of its release. Using the method for the releaseof beta-glucuronidase from the granulocytes they drew conclusions to thedegree of the membrane-damage occurring in the liver diseases. They provided that in the sera of patients with different liver diseases the increase in the activity of the acid phosphatase and the beta-glucuronidase is different. According to their in vitro studies the decrease in the beta-glucuronidase activity measured in the granulocytes, and the release of enzyme is in connection with the type of liver disease and with the different degree of lysosomal membrane alteration.