STUDIES OF LIVER FUNCTION

Abstract

In a recent article dealing with the study of liver function Delprat and Whipple (2) review some of the difficulties arising in this work.We refer to that paper for a discussion of the many factors which complicate a critical study of hepatic function, liver injury and repair, together with the great reserve capacity of the liver cells.The ideal liver function test is not at hand and any studies in this difficult field should be of interest alike to the physiologist and the physician.We must keep in mind that any satisfactory liver function test must include some factor of strain or load to determine the upper limits as well as the lower levels of liver function.