Parameters of microsomal and cytosolic liver function but not of liver perfusion predict portal vein velocity in noncirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C

Our aim was to compare color-coded Doppler sonography (CCDS) and quantitati ve testing of liver function (QTLF) in patients with chronic hepatitis C. I n all, 74 patients with chronic hepatitis C and mild fibrosis underwent QTL F, which included aminopyrine breath test (ABT), galactose elimination capa city (CEC), sorbitol clearance (SC), and indocyanine green clearance (ICG). Hepatic artery velocity and resistance index (HA-V, HA-RI) as well as port al vein velocity (PV-V) were measured by CCDS. ABT, GEC, and PV-V were sign ificantly reduced, whereas SCl, ICG, HA-V, and HA-RI showed normal levels. There was a significant correlation between reduction in PV-V only with GEC and ABT. QTLF did not correlate with WA-V and IIA-RI. In conclusion, in he patitis C patients with liver fibrosis, ABT and GEC are decreased significa ntly, which was paralleled by a reduction of PV-V. Unexpectedly SCl and ICG , the classical hepatic perfusion parameters, do not correlate with the par ameters measured by CCDS.