Antipyrine clearance in liver resections

We studied antipyrine clearance (APC1) in 19 healthy controls, 10 cirrhotic patients, 20 patients undergoing partial hepatectomy for liver tumors (14 with cirrhosis and 6 without cirrhosis). The aim of the study was to evaluate if the test represents a measure of the residual hepatic function and a useful index of surgical risk in cirrhotic patients following partial hepatectomy. The APC1 was significantly reduced in cirrhotic patients ws healthy controls. It is reduced following partial hepatectomy in cirrhotic patients (p less than 0.001) and in non cirrhotic patients (n.s.). The APC1 was found to be related with the plasma level of albumin and pseudocholinesterase; it also was related with the Pugh's score for hepatic function. The APC1 is a satisfactory index of residual hepatic function. On the other hand it does not provide more useful information than the Pugh's score for surgical risk in liver resection.