Extrarenal sorbitol clearance after liver transplantation.

Extrarenal sorbitol clearance was measured in liver transplant patients after a steady-state perfusion. Four measurements were performed in 3 patients with various liver diseases (beginning or patent acute rejection, cytomegalovirus hepatitis, hepatic metastasis). The mean (+/- SD) extrarenal sorbitol clearance was 14.8 +/- 0.1 ml/min.kg. In 5 patients with minimal or no liver abnormalities, the mean from 5 measurements of extrarenal sorbitol clearance was 18.9 +/- 5.0 ml/min.kg. Extrarenal sorbitol clearance values in this later group were higher than the values previously reported in healthy subjects.