Study of liver function tests using various stable isotope labelled compounds in liver cirrhosis

Abstract

3 different stable isotope compounds which are metabolized in various sites of the liver were used to examine assessment methods which permit a precise expression of liver functions. The following 3 tests were performed in 17 cirrhotic patients and 16 healthy subjects as controls; 13C-tyrosine breath test, 15N-ammonium chloride oral loading test, 13C-aminopyrine breath test. The ratio of cirrhotic patients to controls was 89.0% (N.S.), 39.5% (p<0.001), 32.9% (p<0.001) in 13C-tyrosine breath test, 15N-ammonium chloride oral loading test, 13C-aminopyrine breath test respectively. In cirrhotic patients the microsome function was most severely damaged, which is expressed by the 13C-aminopyrine breath test. The result of the Student's t test of 13C-aminopyrine breath test was −9.722, which was higher than that of the 15N-ammonium chloride oral loading test, −5.033. Accordingly, it was recognized that the 13C-aminopyrine breath test most reflected a degree of disorder as a liver function test and also showed the highest reliability. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.