Patterns of liver test abnormalities in patients with surgical sepsis

The progression of changes in biochemical liver test results during moderate and severe sepsis (SS) was studied prospectively in 43 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Using predetermined criteria, severity of sepsis was assessed by physicians blinded to the liver test results. Linear regression analysis showed that bilirubin levels increased at a rate approximating 0.95 mg/dl/day in patients with SS, whereas alkaline phosphatase levels did not rise initially in these patients. Following peak hyperbilirubinemia, however, alkaline phosphatase levels increased at approximately 4 IU/L/day. In patients with moderate sepsis (MS), bilirubin levels increased slowly (approximately 0.4 mg/dl/day) but alkaline phosphatase levels increased rapidly (approximately 29 IU/L/day). Following peak hyperbilirubinemia, alkaline phosphatase levels did not change. These data define patterns of liver test abnormalities of clinical importance. Rapidly rising bilirubin levels with little change in alkaline phosphatase levels are associated with SS, whereas markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase levels may indicate MS or resolution of SS. In critically ill surgical patients subjected to many potential hepatic insults, recognition of liver dysfunction with these patterns should alert the clinician to the possibility of underlying sepsis.