An improved model of galactosamine-induced fulminant hepatic failure in the pig.

Abstract

Fulminant hepatic failure is a serious condition with very high mortality. Development of new therapies designed to bridge the patient through the acute period of their disease has been hampered by the lack of a large animal model that closely reproduces the changes in humans. We have established an improved model of fulminant hepatic failure in the pig by administration of an aminosugar d-galactosamine hydrochloride. Galactosamine in a dose of 1.0 g/kg was dissolved in 5% dextrose in water (D5W) and given intravenously to seven young pigs weighing 8 to 15 kg. Seven control pigs received an equal volume of D5W alone. Two days prior to injection, a baseline ultrasound-guided liver biopsy was done in each pig under general anesthesia using isofluorane. Clinical data were recorded and blood for laboratory determinations was drawn at 0 h (baseline), 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after infusion of galactosamine or D5W alone, under general anesthesia. Neurological data were recorded at the same intervals before inducing anesthesia. Galactosamine-treated animals showed 100% mortality. All of them died by 86 h after injection of galactosamine, with death resulting from fulminant hepatic failure characterized by marked increases in total bilirubin, liver enzymes, ammonia, and lactate; associated coagulopathy; hypoglycemia; and coma. Liver histology showed massive hepatocellular necrosis in all seven galactosamine-treated animals. This large and highly reproducible animal model appears promising for future evaluation of bioartificial liver support systems designed to treat fulminant hepatic failure in humans.

• Authors: K Kalpana, H S Ong, K C Soo, S Y Tan, J Prema Raj
• Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res) Vol. 82 Issue 2 Pg. 121-30 (Apr 1999) ISSN: 0022-4804 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10090819 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 Academic Press.

Chemical References

• Galactosamine

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Coagulation Tests
• Brain (pathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Galactosamine
• Liver (pathology, physiopathology)
• Liver Failure (blood, chemically induced, pathology, physiopathology)
• Liver Function Tests
• Male
• Swine