Kinetic analysis of bromosulfophthalein in alcoholic liver disease

: The Authors evaluated BSF kinetics in 100 subjects affected by hepatic disorders of different degrees of progression produced by chronic alcoholic abuse in comparison with 22 healthy subjects. CBSF and Ke, model independent parameters, were found to discriminate better among groups; model dependent parameters showed, above all, a progressive reduction of fractional hepatic uptake (a) as liver damage worsens and a typical pattern of cirrhosis, especially of decompensated form, characterized by a high fractional hepatic plasma reflux (b). BSF kinetics also showed the early cholestatic effect produced by alcohol. Even if kinetic analysis proved useful, from a clinical point of view, the Authors feel that the simple 45 min BSF retention test and still better the one for Ki (uncorrected initial slope of the disappearance curve) are sufficient to detect and discriminate among the different stages of liver alcoholic diseases.