Abnormal aminopyrine metabolism in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Abstract Aminopyrine metabolism was studied by the aminopyrine breath test in 21 control subjects, 24 patients with untreated chronic active hepatitis (CAH), 4 patients with treated CAH and 17 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH). Aminopyrine breath tests gave abnormal results in 20 of 24 patients with untreated CAH. Findings were normal in all patients with treated CAH or with CPH. This test may be helpful in discriminating between CAH and other forms of chronic hepatitis.