Plasma volatile fatty acids in liver dysfunction, especially after hepatectomy and in surgical liver disorder

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 153 - 160
• Main Author: HORI, Keiichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 1992
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.33.153

We investigated the relationship between blood volatile fatty acids (VFA) and liver failure and liver dysfunction after hepatectomy. Plasma VFA was measured, using gaschromatography. The total VFA value (μmol/l) in peripheral blood are 110.9±20.1 in healthy subjects (n=10), 124.5±32.9 in patients with liver cirrhosis (n=6) and 250.6±131.7 (n=6) in patients with hepatic failure. In hepatic failure, the VFA values are highest, especially propionic acid (C3), caproic acid (C6) and caprylic acid (C8). In patients with liver cirrhosis, the total VFA value inportal blood is abouttwice as high as the value in peripheral blood (p<0.01). The concentration of VFA in peripheral blood showed no significant change after hepatectomy, but C8 increased in early period (p<0.05). In SD rats with liver cirrhosis, the concentration of C3 and C6 is also high. Weconclude that higher blood levels of C3, C6 and C8 may be associated with liver failure.