Activity of class I and II isoenzymes of alcohol dehydrogenase measured by a fluorometric method in the sera of patients with obstructive jaundice

Using new fluorogenic substrates, we measured the activity of class I and II alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isoenzymes in the sera of patients with obstructive jaundice. The activity of class I isoenzymes was elevated two-fold, whereas that of class II isoenzymes was unchanged. This increase of class I isoenzymes explains low increase of total serum ADH activity. ADH isoenzymes and total enzyme activities correlated better with aminotransferases, than with alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, but we can conclude that class I ADH isoenzymes measured with fluorogenic substrates are indicative of obstructive jaundice. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.