Glycine conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA): A quantitative test of liver function

✍ Scribed by Katryn N. Furuya; Peter R. Durie; Eve A. Roberts; Steven J. Soldin; Zul Verjee; Linda Yung-Jato; Esther Giesbrecht; Lynda Ellis

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 976 KB
• Volume: 28
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-9120
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-9120(95)00040-g

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

To evaluate glycine conjugation of para-aminobenzoic acid (paba) to the hippurated metabolites, para-aminohippuric acid (paha), and para-acetamidohippuric acid (paaha) as a quantitative liver function test in patients with liver disease.

Design and methods:

Serum concentrations of paba and metabolites were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography in 24 controls and 50 patients with hepatobiliary disease.

Results:

Hippurate formation was significantly decreased in all patient groups with chronic liver disease versus controls. the hippurate ratio (% hippurated metabolites formed) correlated with severity of disease, serum albumin, and factor vii concentrations. paha concentration was a better prognostic indicator than factor vii concentrations in patients with acute liver disease; concentrations of zero correctly predicted a poor outcome in patients with fulminant liver failure.

Conclusions:

Glycine conjugation of paba may be useful as a quantitative liver function test in patients with hepatobiliary disease and as a prognostic index in patients with fulminant liver failure.