Liver dysfunction associated with artificial nutrition in critically ill patients.
BACKGROUND
Liver dysfunction associated with artificial nutrition in critically ill patients is a complication that seems to be frequent, but it has not been assessed previously in a large cohort of critically ill patients.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective cohort study of incidence in 40 intensive care units. Different liver dysfunction patterns were defined: (a) cholestasis: alkaline phosphatase of more than 280 IU/l, gamma-glutamyl-transferase of more than 50 IU/l, or bilirubin of more than 1.2 mg/dl; (b) liver necrosis: aspartate aminotransferase of more than 40 IU/l or alanine aminotransferase of more than 42 IU/l, plus bilirubin of more than 1.2 mg/dl or international normalized ratio of more than 1.4; and (c) mixed pattern: alkaline phosphatase of more than 280 IU/l or gamma-glutamyl-transferase of more than 50 IU/l, plus aspartate aminotransferase of more than 40 IU/l or alanine aminotransferase of more than 42 IU/l.


RESULTS
Seven hundred and twenty-five of 3,409 patients received artificial nutrition: 303 received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and 422 received enteral nutrition (EN). Twenty-three percent of patients developed liver dysfunction: 30% in the TPN group and 18% in the EN group. The univariate analysis showed an association between liver dysfunction and TPN (p < 0.001), Multiple Organ Dysfunction Score on admission (p < 0.001), sepsis (p < 0.001), early use of artificial nutrition (p < 0.03), and malnutrition (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, liver dysfunction was associated with TPN (p < 0.001), sepsis (p < 0.02), early use of artificial nutrition (p < 0.03), and calculated energy requirements of more than 25 kcal/kg per day (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TPN, sepsis, and excessive calculated energy requirements appear as risk factors for developing liver dysfunction. Septic critically ill patients should not be fed with excessive caloric amounts, particularly when TPN is employed. Administering artificial nutrition in the first 24 hours after admission seems to have a protective effect.
Grau
Teodoro
T
Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain. tgrau.hdoc@salud.madrid.org
Bonet
Alfonso
A
Rubio
Mercedes
M
Mateo
Dolores
D
Farré
Mercé
M
Acosta
José Antonio
JA
Blesa
Antonio
A
Montejo
Juan Carlos
JC
de Lorenzo
Abelardo García
AG
Mesejo
Alfonso
A
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009336:Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000637:Transaminases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin