[Comparison of ICG elimination with biotransformation of model substances and histological features of liver biopsy in liver diseases].

The elimination of indocyanine green (ICG) was measured in 45 patients with histologically proved liver disease to evaluate liver blood flow. Furthermore, the elimination of caffeine and metamizol was determined in serum as a parameter of in vivo biotransformation. In a further step the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation was measured in liver biopsy samples of 30 out of 45 patients (in vitro parameter of biotransformation). The half-life of ICG was compared with the data of biotransformation by means of the calculation of correlations with special consideration of histological findings in liver biopsy samples (monocellular necrosis, intra-acinar fibrosis, structural transformation). Results demonstrate that ICG-elimination is a nonsufficient criterion of liver blood flow in patients with liver disease, because of considerable variation and many influencing factors including the function of the liver cells. Therefore, it is difficult to evaluate results.