title: Liver function declines with increased age.
abstract: Age itself is not considered a contraindication for high impact surgery. However, the aging process of the liver remains largely unknown. This study evaluates age-dependent changes in liver function using a quantitative liver function test.
  
  
  
  Between January 2005 and December 2014, 508 patients underwent (99m)Tc-mebrofenin hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) for the assessment of liver function. These included 203 patients with healthy livers (group A) and 57 patients with HCC and Child-Pugh A (group B). (99m)Tc-mebrofenin-uptake-rate of the whole liver corrected for body surface area (cMUR) was calculated for all patients. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between age and cMUR.
  
  
  
  The mean cMUR was 8.50 ± 2.05%/min/m(2) and 6.94 ± 2.03%/min/m(2) in group A and B, respectively. A negative linear correlation was found between patient's age and cMUR in group A, r = 0.244, p = 0.000. In group B, there was no correlation between age and cMUR, however, a trend in decline of liver function with age was noted.
  
  
  
  This study shows that liver function deteriorates with age. Since the regenerative capacity of the liver correlates with liver function, this finding should be taken into account when assessing surgical risk in patients considered for major liver resection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: k.p.cieslak@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Kasia P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Cieslak
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Onno
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verheij
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roelof J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bennink
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.m.vangulik@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: van Gulik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001830:Body Surface Area; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016014:Linear Models; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008111:Liver Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012038:Regeneration; D012307:Risk Factors; D000072098:Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C034837:technetium Tc 99m mebrofenin; D005998:Glycine