[Insorption of tritiated water in hepatic cirrhosis (author's transl)]

In 10 patients with hepatic cirrhosis of various etiology both the insorption and the volume of distribution of tritiated water are determined. Indicator for the velocity of insorption is the time interval between the oral application of 200 mu-Ci THO distributed in 100 ml tap water and the appearance of a peak concentration of the isotope in the serum. In comparison with normal controls the insorption of THO is protracted in patients with hepatic cirrhosis from 37.0 plus or minus 4.4 min (S.E.) to a mean of 69.0 plus or minus 29.6 min. Individually the "insorption time" can be quite normal. The prolongation of the process of insorption is independent of the apparent volume of distribution of THO or of the etiology of hepatic cirrhosis. In the early phases of the insorption which are characterized by the main increase of the radioactivity in serum there is no difference between patients with hepatic cirrhosis and normal controls. Although an alteration of body fluid metabolism can not be excluded as a source of the prolonged equilibration, it is suggested that changes of the intestinal blood flow, of the tissue pressure and of the colloidosmotic pressure are due to a disturbance of the insorption of tritiated water in patients with hepatic cirrhosis.