Functioning liver mass in uncomplicated and fulminant acute hepatitis

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• Acute hepatitis, both uncomplicated and fulminant, presents a significant challenge in assessing liver function.
• Accurate measurement of liver function is crucial for prognosis and management of hepatitis patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the galactose elimination capacity and plasma clearance of phenazone in patients with uncomplicated and fulminant hepatitis.
• To correlate these liver function tests with patient outcomes (survival vs. mortality).

Main Methods:

• Investigated galactose elimination capacity and phenazone plasma clearance in 24 uncomplicated hepatitis, 8 surviving fulminant hepatitis, and 26 fatal fulminant hepatitis patients.
• Compared test results at hospital admission and monitored changes over time.
• Analyzed the correlation between initial test values and patient survival.

Main Results:

• Galactose elimination capacity was 52% (uncomplicated), 47% (surviving fulminant), and 22% (fatal) of normal. Phenazone clearance was 43%, 22%, and 10%, respectively.
• Tests improved in uncomplicated and surviving fulminant hepatitis cases, but not in fatal cases.
• Initial test values were significantly higher in survivors than non-survivors of fulminant hepatitis.

Conclusions:

• Liver function tests accurately reflect the extent of functioning liver cell mass loss in hepatitis.
• Uncomplicated hepatitis involves 60-70% cell mass loss, surviving fulminant hepatitis 80-85%, and fatal cases nearly total loss.
• These tests are valuable indicators for predicting survival in fulminant hepatitis.