LIDOCAINE ELIMINATION AND MONOETHYLGLYCINEXYLIDIDE FORMATION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS OR CIRRHOSIS

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationshi p between plasma elimination of Lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) formation, which is considered to be a quantitative liver func tion test. Methodology: The study included ten healthy subjects and 54 patients: 27 with chronic hepatitis and 27 with cirrhosis. Lidocaine and MEGX were measured at 0, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 min and then every 30 mi n for 180 min using the TDX system.Results:ln cirrhotic patients, the lidocaine half-life of the slow decline phase of the plasma disappeara nce curve (beta-HL) and the lidocaine half-life of hepatic elimination from the second compartment (K-20-HL) proved to be significantly abno rmal, as did all parameters of MEGX formation. In chronic hepatitis, b oth the lidocaine kinetics and the MEGX formation parameters were with in the normal range. In chronic hepatitis patients, MEGX formation. (A UG 0-180) was significantly correlated to K20-HL (r(s)=-0.633, p<0.001 ) and to the rapid decline phase of the plasma disappearance curve (al pha-HL, r(s)=-0.483, p<0.05). In cirrhotic patients, MEGX was signific antly correlated to K-20-HL (r(s)=-0.423, p<0.05) and to beta-HL (r(s) =-0.500, p<0.01). Conclusions: These results show that in chronic acti ve hepatitis, MEGX formation from lidocaine is maintained as a metabol ic process, whereas it is altered in. cirrhotic patients. The interrel ationship between. lidocaine elimination and MEGX formation were somew hat different in the two liver diseases.