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Study of liver function in healthy elderly subjects using the 13 C‐methacetin breath test
Author(s) -
Ciccocioppo R.,
Candelli M.,
Di Francesco D.,
Ciocca F.,
Taglieri G.,
Armuzzi A.,
Gasbarrini G.,
Gasbarrini A.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2003.01413.x
Subject(s) - medicine , breath test , excretion , gastroenterology , liver function , population , environmental health , helicobacter pylori
Summary Background : The issue of whether or not liver function is compromised in the healthy elderly population remains unsolved. Aim : To investigate the putative age‐related modifications of hepatic function using the 13 C‐methacetin breath test. Because endogenous CO 2 production changes with age, motor activity and nutrition, a different form of processing the results was investigated. Patients and methods :Twenty‐nine elderly subjects (mean age, 79.8 ± 7.9 years; female/male ratio, 17/12) and 28 adult subjects (mean age, 40.6 ± 12.3 years; female/male ratio, 13/15) underwent13 C‐methacetin breath test and trans‐abdominal echosonography with Doppler pulsed wave analysis of the coeliac axis and portal vein. Results : Although the 13 CO 2 peak occurred within 15–30 min in both elderly and adult subjects, it was significantly decreased in the former (30.66% ± 9.2% vs. 38.33% ± 6.05%; P < 0.001), as was the cumulative excretion (33.07% ± 7.06% vs. 39.81% ± 5.68%; P < 0.001). When correcting for the effects of CO 2 excretion by age, the age‐related modification of the cumulative dose became more evident (elderly group 30.15% ± 6.46% vs. adult group 37.97% ± 5.92%; P < 0.0001). The elderly group also showed an increase in the intra‐hepatic resistance index using Doppler pulsed wave analysis, which inversely correlated with the results of the breath test. Conclusions : Hepatic function is not well preserved in healthy humans throughout life and may be due to an increase in vascular resistance.