Abstract
Intravenous galactose tolerance tests with and without an alcohol load have been used to study the liver function of fifteen healthy persons and twelve chronic alcoholics whose diet has for long periods been inadequate. The results are related to other liver function tests and to the microscopic appearance of liver biopsy specimens. In patients with normal liver function the T 1/2 value for galactose without ethanol averages 12.7 minutes, with a standard deviation of ± 2.5 minutes. The mean prolongation of the T 1/2 value induced by ethanol was 28.5 ± 5.0 (S.D.) minutes.All but one of the alcoholics had typical fatty infiltration of the liver. The breakdown of galactose without ethanol was equal to that of normal persons. In sharp contrast to the controls, however, the previous ethanol load did not influence the galactose elimination rate in these patients with fatty livers. It is concluded that fatty liver should always be suspected when the ethanol-induced prolongation of the T 1/2 value for galactose r...
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.