title: [Role of the liver in septic encephalopathy. A disorder associated with multiple organ failure caused by sepsis].
abstract: The appearance of jaundice during a septic process is usually associated to multiple organ failure and a high mortality rate. Among 17 septic patients followed prospectively, we found 11 with hepatic dysfunction. Abnormal levels of bilirubin and alanine-aminotransferase were found. Glutamine concentration in spinal fluid was 26 +/- 19.4 mg/dl vs 9.43 +/- 2.41 in patients without liver failure (p less than 0.05). Significant correlations were found among levels of bilirubin and glutamine (r = 0.83), creatinine (r = 0.708), number of platelets (r = 0.778) and between glutamine and creatinine (r = 0.708). Patients with liver failure presented a higher rate of renal failure and thrombocytopenia (p less than 0.01) and a higher mortality rate. These findings confirm that liver failure is associated to multiple organ failure and thrombocytopenia. It may be related to small vessel occlusion.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Videla
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005973:Glutamine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D011516:Prothrombin; D003404:Creatinine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin
vernacular_title: Rol del hígado en la encefalopatía séptica. Un desorden vinculado a la disfunción orgánica múltiple de la sepsis.