[Carbohydrate metabolism enzymes in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension].

Glycogen and protein concentrations and the activities of liver glycogen metabolic enzymes were measured in 22 children aged 4 to 15, suffering from extrahepatic portal hypertension. Glucose-6-phosphatase, amylo-1,6-glucosidase, fructose-1,6-diphosphatase, phosphorylases alpha and beta, phosphoglucomutase, and phosphohexose isomerase levels were analyzed. Liver biopsy specimens obtained by surgical marginal biopsy were used in the study. No or drastic reduction of phosphorylase alpha activity and reduction of glycogen concentration and glucose-phosphatase activity were found characteristic of extrahepatic hypertension. Analysis of correlations of the findings has demonstrated a medium correlation in 4 cases and a strong correlation between the findings in 1 case, the possibility being estimated as 0.95-0.99. The highest number of correlations was observed with phosphorylase alpha and glucose-6-phosphatase (3 correlations). Liver blood stream impairments result in injury to one of its main biochemical functions, i.e., the maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis, this leading to reduction of the adaptation potential of the body; this should be borne in mind when planning therapeutic measures for patients with extrahepatic hypertension.