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


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.
Furuya
K N
KN
Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Durie
P R
PR
Roberts
E A
EA
Soldin
S J
SJ
Verjee
Z
Z
Yung-Jato
L
L
Giesbrecht
E
E
Ellis
L
L
D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000618:Aminohippuric Acids; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005167:Factor VII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006626:Hippurates / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D010130:p-Aminohippuric Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates
D000618:Aminohippuric Acids; D006626:Hippurates; D012709:Serum Albumin; D062366:para-Aminobenzoates; C023730:Acedoben; C024893:4-acetylaminohippuric acid; D005167:Factor VII; C030514:hippuric acid; D005998:Glycine; D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid; D010130:p-Aminohippuric Acid