title: Suprahepatic vein oxygen tension in alcoholics with severe and mild liver damage.
abstract: We measured suprahepatic vein and arterial partial oxygen pressure in 35 alcoholics with severe (N = 7) or mild (N = 28) histological liver damage and without evidence of clinical liver failure. The suprahepatic vein was punctured with a fine needle, using a percutaneous approach. Suprahepatic vein partial oxygen pressure was lower and arterial-suprahepatic gradient higher in alcoholics with severe liver damage compared to those with mild damage (35.1 +/- 1.7 vs 44.1 +/- 2.1 and 58.9 +/- 3.7 vs 45.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, respectively; P < 0.001). Suprahepatic puncture was well tolerated and devoid of complications. It is concluded that alcoholics with severe liver damage have lower oxygen tensions in the suprahepatic vein, a phenomenon that supports the hypoxic theory of alcoholic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA), University of Chile, Santiago.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bunout
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moya
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: de la Maza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petermann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iturriaga
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D001815:Bloodletting / Q000379:methods; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006503:Hepatic Veins; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D017534:Radial Artery
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen