SIGNIFICANCE OF AMINOPYRINE BREATH TEST AS A PARAMETER OF HEPATIC FUNCTIONAL RESERVE IN 40-PERCENT PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY OF RATS WITH CCL4-INDUCED LIVER-INJURY

Rats with CCl4-induced liver injury underwent partial (40%) hepatectom y. The [C-14]aminopyrine breath test (ABT) values in rats with CCl4-in duced liver injury were reduced by 34% compared with those in rats wit h normal liver. Preoperative ABT values clearly discriminated between survivors and those that died following 40% partial hepatectomy in rat s CCl4-induced liver injury (P < 0.05). Hepatic protein synthesis was remarkably enhanced in CCl4-induced liver injury compared with normal liver (P < 0.001), and this was inversely correlated with ABT values ( P < 0.001). These data show that the enhanced hepatic protein synthesi s could induce a decrease of hepatic functional reserve. ABT seems to be a useful preoperative test for predicting surgical mortality follow ing hepatectomy.