13C-aminopyrine demethylation is decreased in cirrhotic patients with normal biochemical markers

Afolabi, Paul, Wright, Mark, Wootton, Steve A. and Jackson, Alan A. (2013) 13C-aminopyrine demethylation is decreased in cirrhotic patients with normal biochemical markers. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 49 (3), 346-356. (doi:10.1080/10256016.2013.803098). (PMID:23799253)

Abstract

This study determined the rates of (13)C-aminopyrine metabolism in patients with varying degrees of liver cirrhosis as defined by clinical scores. Twenty-five cirrhotic patients and 18 healthy subjects underwent a (13)C-aminopyrine breath test. The cumulative per cent dose recovery (cPDR) of (13)C on breath expressed as a percentage of the administered dose at 2 h was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients than in healthy subjects (median: 1.7% versus 9.0%; p<.0001). Significant inverse associations between cPDR at 2 h and the model for end-stage liver disease score, Child-Pugh score, international normalised ratio and bilirubin (all p<.05), but not alanine aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase were observed in the cirrhotic patients. Taking each biochemical marker independently, cirrhotic patients with normal biochemistry had a significantly lower cPDR at 2 h than healthy subjects (all p<.05). Differences in (13)C-aminopyrine metabolism were evident in cirrhotic patients with less severe disease and may mark hepatic dysfunction when conventional biochemical markers appear unchanged

This record has no associated files available for download.

Contributors

Author: Paul Afolabi

Download statistics