Redox tolerance test: An indicator of preoperative hepatic functional reserve in liver diseases

Changes in the arterial ketone body ratio during oral glucose loading were observed preoperatively in 134 patients with liver disease, and these data were correlated with the pathology findings of liver tissue and the postoperative clinical course. It was found that the redox tolerance index (RTI) could serve as a quantitive indicator of the severity of the underlying chronic hepatic disease in patients with liver disease, and as a reliable indicator of preoperative hepatic functional reserve. When the RTI was 0.70 or more, the underlying hepatic disease was slight and there was good hepatic functional reserve; these patients could tolerate any type of hepatic resection. When the RTI was less than 0.70 and more than 0.5, the underlying hepatic disease was moderate and hepatic functional reserve was poor; if the RTI was less than 0.50, major hepatic resection could not be tolerated.