Backround:Abnormalities in liver function tests have impact on prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure ( CHF ). The aim of the present study was to assess the functional liver mass in patients with systolic CHF and arterial hypertension with 13C- methacetin breath test.
Patients and methods:liver function was assessed with 13C- methacetin breath test in twenty patients with systolic CHF and ten age and sex matched subjects with arterial hypertension and preserved left ventricular function. The cumulative dose of exhaled 13CO2 was measured with infra-red analyser. On the day of breath test, routine liver function tests were determined and the echocardiographic studies were realized.
Results: functional liver mass significantly decreased in 10 patients advanced heart failure ( NYHA class IV ) compared to subjects with mild to moderate heart failure and patients with arterial hypertension. In the group of 20 patients with chronic heart failure, weak correlation of cumulative dose of 13CO2 with LV EF ( r = 0,47 ) and significant inverse correlation with left atrial diameter ( r = -0,80, p‹0,0001 ) was reveled among other variables.
Conclusions: The metabolic liver function is significantly impaired in patients with advanced CHF. Liver function is not impaired nor in patients with mild to moderate CHF, neither in subjects with arterial hypertension and preserved systolic LV function. The functional liver mass in patients with systolic CHF does not correlate with LV EF, but significantly correlates with left atrial diameter.