Functional hepatic flow in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Abstract

AIM:

To evaluate hepatic reserve function by investigating the change of functional hepatic flow and total hepatic flow in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension.

METHODS:

HPLC method was employed for the determination of concentration of D-sorbitol in human plasma and urine. The functional hepatic flow (FHF) and total hepatic flow (THF) were determined by means of modified hepatic clearance of D-sorbitol combined with duplex doppler color sonography in 20 patients with cirrhosis and 10 healthy volunteers.

RESULTS:

FHF, evaluated by means of the D-sorbitol clearance, was significantly reduced in patients with cirrhosis in comparison to controls (764.74+/-167.91 vs 1195.04+/-242.97 mL/min, P<0.01). While THF was significantly increased in patients with cirrhosis in comparison to controls (1605.23+/-279.99 vs 1256.12+/-198.34 mL/min, P<0.01). Portal blood flow and hepatic artery flow all were increased in cirrhosis compared to controls (P<0.05 and P<0.01). D-sorbitol total clearance was significantly reduced in cirrhosis compared to control (P<0.01), while D-sorbitol renal clearance was significantly increased in cirrhosis (P<0.05). In controls FHF was similar to THF (1195.05+/-242.97 vs 1256.12+/-198.34 mL/min, P=0.636), while FHF was significantly reduced compared with THF in cirrhosis (764.74+/-167.91 vs 1605.23+/-279.99 mL/min, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION:

Our method that combined modified hepatic clearance of D-sorbitol with duplex doppler color sonography is effective in the measurement of FHF and THF. FHF can be used to estimate hepatic reserve function.

• Authors: Zheng Pan, Xing-Jiang Wu, Jie-Shou Li, Fang-Nan Liu, Wei-Su Li, Jian-Ming Han
• Journal: World journal of gastroenterology (World J Gastroenterol) Vol. 10 Issue 6 Pg. 915-8 (Mar 15 2004) ISSN: 1007-9327 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15040046 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Indicators and Reagents
• Sorbitol

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Hepatic Artery (physiopathology)
• Humans
• Hypertension, Portal (complications)
• Indicators and Reagents (pharmacokinetics)
• Kidney (metabolism)
• Liver Circulation
• Liver Cirrhosis (etiology, physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Portal System (physiopathology)
• Sorbitol (pharmacokinetics)