Hepatic function as assessed by lidocaine metabolism in sickle cell disease

Abstract Objective: To evaluate hepatic drug metabolism, as determined by the formation of monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) after lidocaine injection and indocyanine green (ICG) clearance, in patients with sickle cell disease. Study design: A case-control study including 19 patients with homozygous hemoglobin S, and 13 age- and sex-matched black control subjects. Serum MEGX concentration was measured after intravenous injection of 1 mg/kg (maximum 50 mg) lidocaine. ICG (0.5 mg/kg) was injected concomitantly and absorbance (805 nm) of serum was measured over time to determine its volume of distribution, serum half-life, and hepatic blood flow. Results: MEGX formation at 15 minutes was decreased in patients with sickle cell disease compared with formation in the control subjects (39.9 ± 18.0 vs 65.6 ± 50.0 μg/L, respectively, p p p Conclusion: Hepatic drug metabolism, as assessed by MEGX formation after lidocaine injection, is impaired in patients with sickle cell disease. This impairment may have clinical implications when using hepatically metabolized medications in patients with sickle cell disease. (J Pediatr 1998;132:989-93.)