[Changes in the biochemical parameters during parenteral nutrition. The experience in Hospital de Bellvitge]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the modifications in biochemical parameters before and after the initiation of nutritional therapy, and to observe whether there is a relationship between the patient's development (exitus or improvement) and the presence of sepsis. The study was performed on 578 adults treated in our hospital from January 1988 to October 1989. The parameters analyzed were the following: glucose, triglycerides, total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT, bilirubin, GGT, urea, urates, creatinine and electrolytes. The average initial values of each parameter were compared against those obtained after interrupting the PN by means of the Student t test. The results showed that within the parameters indicating the hepatic function, GGT and alkaline phosphatase were those that showed the most significant differences after ceasing the PN. Furthermore, the parameters indicating hepatic function and the electrolytes showed greater variations, regardless of the clinical evolution of the patient (improvement or exitus). The remainder of the parameters showed significant variations based on the clinical evolution.