Determination of galactose elimination capacity after intravenous administration in patients with chronic liver diseases.

The authors describe a simple method of examination of galactose elimination capacity after intravenous administration of a twenty per cent solution in the total dose of 0.5 g galactose/kg body weight. After enzymatic determination of galactose concentration in six samples of venous blood (taken within 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 minutes after finishing the galactose infusion) the elimination curve of galactose and the intersection point with the time axis (t) is assessed and the galactose elimination capacity is calculated. In patients with liver steatosis and steatofibrosis, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis the mean values of galactose elimination capacity were significantly lower in comparison with healthy volunteers. The method is sufficiently reliable, precise and quickly performable. It is suitable for evaluation and monitoring of the functional liver capacity, severity and progression rate of liver diseases. (Tab. 1. Fig. 2. Ref. 28).