Clinical Biochemistry in Hepatobiliary Diseases : Proceedings of the International Satellite Symposium, Bologna, Italy, 1988

The clinical biochemistry ofhepatobiliary diseases is very widely studied, and publica­ tions abound on this topic. However, there is no recent publication that provides a comprehensive collection of the various leading aspects that go to make up this complex theme. Therefore, we thought it useful to gather together a few scientists whose work has focused on the various clinical biochemistry-aspects of these disorders in order that they might discuss their experience and expertise. The aim of the International Satellite Symposium on Clinical Biochemistry in Hepatobiliary Disease, in addition to reviewing the individual aspects, was to describe the state-of-the-art so as to provide useful data for laboratory scientists and also for physicians working in the field of hepatobiliary diseases, and these two aims are clearly reflected in the chapters of this volume. The volume opens with an introductory chapter that gives a general overview of the various aspects of the clinical biochemistry of these disorders, while the closing chapter deals with an important aspect that deserves to be increasingly emphasized in laboratory medicine, i.e., strategies to integrate information coming from the laboratory to make them more useful for clinical diagnosis. Front Matter....Pages I-IX The Clinical Biochemistry of Hepatobiliary Diseases....Pages 1-15 The Serum Gamma-glutamyltransferase Isoenzyme System and its Diagnostic Role in Hepatobiliary Diseases....Pages 17-46 Alkaline Phosphatase in Hepatobiliary Disease....Pages 47-62 Enzymatic Profiles of Hepatic Disease....Pages 63-74 Reference Values and Drug Effects on Hepatic Enzymes....Pages 75-91 Plasma Amylase in Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Disease....Pages 93-103 Clinical Significance of Recent Developments in Serum Bilirubins....Pages 105-128 Methodological and Clinical Aspects of Bile Acid Analysis in Biological Fluids....Pages 129-173 Strategies to Integrate Laboratory Information into the Clinical Diagnosis of Hepatic and Acute Pancreatic Disease....Pages 175-185 Back Matter....Pages 187-198