SUPRAHEPATIC VEIN OXYGEN-TENSION IN ALCOHOLICS WITH SEVERE AND MILD LIVER-DAMAGE

We measured suprahepatic vein and arterial partial oxygen pressure in 35 alcoholics with severe (N = 7) or mild (N = 28), histological liver damage and without evidence of clinical liver failure. The suprahepat ic vein was punctured with a fine needle, using a percutaneous approac h. Suprahepatic vein partial oxygen pressure was lower and arterial-su prahepatic gradient higher in alcoholics with severe liver damage comp ared to those with mild damage (35.1 +/- 1.7 vs 44.1 +/- 2.1 and 58.9 +/- 3.7 vs 45.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, respectively; P < 0.001); Suprahepatic puncture was well tolerated and devoid of complications. It is conclud ed that alcoholics with severe liver damage have lower oxygen tensions in the suprahepatic vein, a phenomenon that supports the hypoxic theo ry of alcoholic liver disease.