Effect of prostaglandin E1 on hepatic function after hepatectomy in patients with chronic liver disease.

We designed a clinical study to determine the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on functional recovery of the liver after hepatectomy. Thirty-five patients with primary hepatic neoplasms accompanied by chronic liver disease were randomly divided into two groups: 13 patients received intravenous PGE1 at 0.06 micro g/kg per minute for 3 postoperative days (PGE1[+] group) and 22 patients did not (PGE1[-] group). All postoperative values of hepatic function tests were calculated as a ratio to each preoperative value. Significantly higher cholinesterase ratios were observed in the PGE1[+] group than in the PGE1[-] group 2 weeks postsurgery (P < 0.05). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratios at 1 and 2 weeks postsurgery were 118% and 123% in the PGE1[+] group and 207% and 175% in the PGE1[-] group, respectively. The ratio of the maximum postoperative ALT level was 503% in the PGE1[+] group and 792% in the PGE1[-] group (P < 0.05). We concluded that PGE1 would have the effect of conditioning the postoperative ALT elevation and cholinesterase deterioration and that the patient's postoperative course might be more favorable with the use of PGE1.