A simplified method to determine galactose elimination capacity in patients with liver disease

Abstract

Bergstrom M, Soderman C, Eriksson LS. A simplified method to determine galactose elimination capacity in patients with liver disease. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1993; 53: 667-670

Galactose elimination capacity (GEC) is one of the most widely used liver function tests. It is relatively simple but still involves a number of capillary blood samples and is therefore fairly expensive. In the current study we present a simplified formula, based on GEC investigations in 103 cirrhotic patients, with which it is possible to estimate the GEC with one or two blood samples. Using this formula: GEC = [7.422–corrected B-galactose^60min]/4.575, we could accurately predict GEC in 24 additional patients.

Key Words:

• albumin
• cirrhosis
• liver function tests