Liver function assessed by increased rate of portal venous blood flow after oral intake of glucose.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether an increased rate of portal venous blood flow after oral intake of glucose could be used to estimate liver function.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital, Japan.


METHODS
Sixty patients, of whom 23 had hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis, 21 had tumours metastatic to normal liver, and 16 had obstructive jaundice treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).


METHODS
Portal flow was measured after oral intake of glucose 75 g using pulsed-Doppler ultrasonography.


RESULTS
The ratio of portal flow 30 minutes after glucose intake to that before intake (PVFR30) was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in those with metastases and a normal liver. A PVFR30 of less than 1.5 indicated impaired hepatic function assessed by the Child-Pugh scores, indocyanine green clearance test, prothrombin time, and hepaplastin test. It also indicated less reduction in total bilirubin concentrations in the first week after PTBD.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that PVFR30 can be used to estimate liver function and predict outcome after PTBD.
Sasaya
S
S
Department of Surgery, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama, Japan.
Yagi
H
H
Yamaguchi
M
M
Kigawa
G
G
Nakano
H
H
Midorikawa
T
T
Nagasaki
H
H
Kumada
K
K
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D005947:Glucose