The Hepatic Blood Flow and Splanchnic Oxygen Consumption in Alcoholic Fatty Liver

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Abstract
Hepatic blood flow (HBF) and splanchnic O2 consumption (SOC) were measured in normal subjects in alcoholic patients with fatty livers, and in the same alcoholic patients after periods of treatment when the liver fat had disappeared. Mean HBF was the same in the alcoholic patients before and after fat disappearance. It was lower than that for normal subjects although the difference between the means was not statistically significant. Mean SOC was 100% greater in alcoholic patients with fatty livers than in normal subjects, but returned to a near normal value after treatment. The increased SOC and sub-normal HBF in the alcoholic patients with fatty livers was associated with decreased O2 saturation of hepatic vein blood. Centrolobular anoxia may be related to hepatic injury.