Effect of prostaglandin E1 on ammonia concentration in blood of patients with hepatic resection

Abstract

Plasma concentrations of ammonia were examined following prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) administration in 16 patients who received hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. PGE1 at 0.01-0.04 microgram/kg/min was administered for approximately 24 hr during the perioperative periods. The ammonia concentration was reduced a day after the operation following intravenous administration of PGE1 in cirrhotic patients compared to noncirrhotic patients with or without PGE1 injection. Serum liver function scores, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and total bilirubin concentrations were decreased after PGE1 administration. A similar ammonia response due to PGE1 was obtained after operation in cirrhotic patient when PGE1 0.5 microgram/kg was administered intravenously for 30 min. These results suggest that PGE1 administration is useful in reducing the enhanced ammonia concentration associated with hepatic resection, and it is particularly effective in the case of liver cirrhosis.

The effects of intraportal administration of prostaglandin E 1 on liver ischemia and hepatectomy in rats

“…There are several experimental9,10,22 or clinical2,12,38 reports on the effect of PGE 1 on ischemically injured liver or on hepatectomized liver. However, no combined study has yet been performed on the hemodynamic effect of intraportally administered PGE 1 in a model of ischemia reperfusion followed by partial hepatectomy.…”

“…The cytoprotective effects of PGE 1 on ischemic liver damage have recently been demonstrated experimentally . Clinically, PGE 1 has been used to improve postoperative liver function in hepatectomized patients as well as to treat primary non‐function after transplantation of the liver with apparent success …”

Effect of Short‐term Administration of Prostaglandin E1 on Viability after Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury with Extended Hepatectomy in Cirrhotic Rat Liver

“…Studies have shown that increasing blood flow to the liver during reperfusion is one of the essential factors for a good prognosis [2]. Prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1) has been used extensively for cytoprotection against various damaging agents both experimentally [3,4] and clinically in hepatectomized patients [5,6]. It has been used in noncirrhotic livers as well as to treat primary nonfunction after liver transplantation [7,8] with apparent success.…”