[Protective effects of prostaglandin E1 on postoperative liver function after cardiac surgery]

Effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on liver function were studied in 72 patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The patients were divided into three groups: (A) patients with preoperative hepatic dysfunction who underwent MVR; (B) patients without previous hepatic dysfunction who underwent MVR; (C) patients without hepatic dysfunction who underwent CABG. About half of the patients in each group received PGE1 during the operation and postoperative period in the ICU. Change of serum GOT, GPT, albumin, total bilirubin, and cholinesterase (ChE) showed no difference between the patients with and without PGE1 administration in groups B and C. But, in group A, PGE1 administration significantly ameliorated the decrease of ChE, a condition which is usually observed in the first and second postoperative weeks after MVR. None of the patients showed severe hepatic dysfunction in the PGE1 group. One patient in the control group A revealed severe hepatic failure with high bilirubinemia and decreased ChE. These results suggest that the administration of PGE1 to patients with hepatic dysfunction, scheduled for MVR, might protect the liver from deterioration.