[Risk factors for abnormal liver function tests of parenteral nutrition in a referral hospital in Mexico]

the abnormalities in liver function tests (LFTs) and liver complications (LC) from parenteral nutrition (PN) are common and usually multifactorial. These factors have not yet been assessed in the adult Mexican population.

To determine whether the dose prescribed > 1 g/kg is a risk factor for the abnormalities in liver function tests (LFTs) from PN.

Cohort study including patients older than 15 years and excluding those managed at the intensive car unit or with abnormalities in liver enzymes before the start of PN. The exposed and non-exposed groups were those receiving > 1 g of lipids per kg of body weight or < 1 g/kg, respectively. LFTs were defined as an increase higher than 50% of the normal range for AST, ALT, AF or total bilirrubin.

the incidence of LFTs abnormalities was 20 (47.6%) and 15 (41.6%) in the exposed and non-exposed groups, respectively (RR 1.14 95% IC: 0.69-1.88; p = 0.59). The most frequent liver damage pattern was cholestatic, followed by the mixed pattern and then hepatocellular. The dose of prescribed lipids > 1 g/kg was not associated with the development of LC from LFTs abnormalities. The higher the dose of proteins the lower the frequency of LFTs abnormalities.

The dose of lipids prescribed >1 g/kg was not associated with the development of LFTs abnormalities from PN in our sample population. These findings should be confirmed in clinical trials.