[Hepatobiliary functions in primary biliary cirrhosis--assessment with 99mTc-PMT hepatobiliary scintigraphy]

To define a relationship between the changes of hepatic and gallbladder functions and the pathological progression in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, we studied 15 patients at various pathologic stages with 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyl-tryptophan (PMT) hepatobiliary scintigraphy. In stage I both the hepatic uptake rates and hepatic excretion rates of 99mTc-PMT were not reduced compared with the normal subjects. According to the progress of the pathologic stage, the hepatic uptake rates of 99mTc-PMT were decreased. The hepatic excretion rates were reduced in stages II, III and IV, but they were not related to the progression of the pathologic stage. The hepatic uptake rate is considered to be useful in evaluating the pathological progression in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. The mean gallbladder ejection fraction in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (32 +/- 18%) was significantly lower than that of the normal subjects (72 +/- 13%) (p < 0.005). The reduction of the gallbladder ejection fraction was not related to the progress of the pathologic stage. Sluggish emptying of gallbladder may suggest the gallbladder wall lesion in this disease.