The quantitative liver function as measured by the galactose elimination capacity. I. Diagnostic value and relations to clinical, biochemical, and histological findings in patients with steatosis and patients with cirrhosis.

Quantitative liver function was estimated by determination of the galactose elimination capacity (GEC) in 29 patients with steatosis, 50 with cirrhosis and 42 control patients without clinical history or signs of liver disease. In patients with steatosis and cirrhosis, clinical signs of liver disease were recorded and the most common liver tests were carried out. The degree of histological changes was investigated in needle liver biopsies performed in a close relation to the GEC determinations. A positive correlation between GEC and body weight and body surface area was observed in all three patient groups. GEC (absolute value, per kg body weight and per m2 body surface area) was significantly different (p less than 0.001) between the three groups, but was without diagnostic value due to a broad scattering of results in each group. This may be due to methodological errors in the determination of GEC, but also to the large biological variation in normal man and the pathophysiological conditions in patients with liver disease. Neither in patients with steatosis nor in patients with cirrhosis could significant relations be found between GEC and clinical signs of liver disease or the degree of severity of histological changes assessed semiquantitatively. In patients with cirrhosis but not in patients with steatosis, GEC was significantly correlated with the majority of the most commonly utilized liver tests.