A simplified method to determine galactose elimination capacity in patients with liver disease

Abstract
Galactose elimination capacity (GEC) is one of the most widely used liver function tests. It is relatively simple but still involves a number of capillary blood samples and is therefore fairly expensive. In the current study we present a simplified formula, based on GEC investigations in 103 cirrhotic patients, with which it is possible to estimate the GEC with one or two blood samples. Using this formula: GEC = [7.422--corrected B-galactose60 min]/4.575, we could accurately predict GEC in 24 additional patients.