EVALUATION OF LIVER FUNCTION ASSESSED BY INDOCYANINE GREEN COLORATION ON THE LIVER SURFACE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to elucidate a significance of intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) under laparoscopy. ICG-score was laparoscopically assessed for the ICG coloration on the liver surface at 20 minutes after ICG administration in a dose of 3 mg/kg, and comparion was made among 153 patients with various liver diseases. Then, correlations between the ICG-score and liver function tests, hepatic glutathione S-transfer-ase (GST) activity and ICG kinetic parameters of two compartment model were evaluated. Following results were obtained. (1) The ICG-score was high in minimal change (well colored) and low in cirrhosis (poorly colored). (2) The ICG-score was positively correlated with serum albumin level, serum cholinesterase activity and hepaplastin test, and negative-ly correlated with ICG retention rate at 15 minutes. (3) The ICG-score was positively correlated with hepatic GST activity. (4) The ICG-score was positively correlated with parameter "a" (the transfer rate constant from plasma to the liver) and "VL" (the liver compartment volume). In conclusion, intravenous injection of ICG under laparoscopy seems to be a useful method in assessing the liver function for hepatic dye metabolism as well as the hepatic morphology.