The low-dose monoethylglycinexylidide test: Assessment of liver function with fewer side effects

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Abstract
The hepatic metabolism of lidocaine (1 mg/kg intravenously) to its metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEG-X) is the basis of the standard MEG-X test. To reduce the lidocaine-induced side effects, we evaluated the MEG-X formation after 0.5 and 1 mg/kg lidocaine intravenously in subjects with normal (n = 5) and severely impaired liver function (n = 7) (study I). From this study, a low-dose test (MEG- X concentration 30 minutes after 50 mg lidocaine intravenously [MEG- X30min] normalized to standard MEG-X test results) was developed. Sensory side effects from this low dose and from the standard MEG-X test were compared in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study (study II) comprising 15 individuals with normal liver function and 45 patients with cirrhosis (15 Child A, 15 Child B, and 15 Child C). In study I, MEG-X formation rate was dose-independent in patients with severely impaired liver function. In study II, normalized MEG-X test results (ranging from < or = 4 to 120 μg/L) were virtually identical to the standard test results (mean difference: -1.9 μg/L; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.3; 1.5 μg/L). Fewer individuals experienced side effects (30% vs. 53%) with the low-dose test (P = .0013). In a multivariate analysis, the Child-Pugh score was inversely related to the occurrence of side effects. The low-dose MEG-X test gives almost identical results to the standard MEG-X test and is associated with fewer side effects, which occur less often in individuals with more severely compromised liver function.

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