Chemical evaluation of hepatic function in Nigerians.

Most of the tests of liver function normally performed in a routine laboratory depend on quantitative and qualitative changes in the serum proteins. Since it is now well established that the serum protein pattern in Africans differs significantly from that generally accepted as normal for Europeans (Arens and Brock, 1954; Edozien, 1957; Holmes, Stanier, Semambo, and Jones, 1951 ; Schofield, 1957), it appeared of some importance to investigate the results of these routine tests when applied to healthy Nigerians. Such an investigation would not only provide normal values for the local population but may throw further light on the mechanism of the turbidity and flocculation tests of hepatic function.