Evaluation of volatile sulfur compounds in the expired alveolar gas in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Trace amounts of volatile sulfur compounds were determined in the expired alveolar gas by gas chromatography. Among these sulfur containing substances, methyl mercaptan and dimethyl sulfide were quantitatively analyzed in 116 subjects; 53 normal, 13 acute hepatitis, 11 chronic hepatitis, 20 hepatic cirrhosis, and 19 stomach ulcer and/or biopsy of gastric mucosa. Fasting level of dimethyl sulfide in cirrhotics was 4.05 +/- 1.06 ng/dl, significantly elevated by comparison with normal controls (1.54 +/- 0.09 ng/dl) (P less than 0.05). In contrast, methyl mercaptan did not show a statistically significant rise in this study. The implications of the significant increase in dimethyl sulfide concentration in liver cirrhosis are discussed.