Impaired cell functions of hepatocytes incubated with plasma of septic patients

Objective and design The development of liver failure is a major problem in septic patients. In this prospective clinical experimental study the hepatotoxicity of plasma from septic and non-septic patients was tested. Methods and subjects The basic test components consist of human liver cells (HepG2/C3A) used in a standardized microtiter plate assay. After incubation with patient’s plasma viability of cells (XTT-test), the cytochrome 1A2 activity and synthesis of micro albumin were measured. Subjects (28) enrolled comprise the septic shock group (SSG, n = 10), the non-septic group (NSG, n = 5) and the healthy volunteers group (HVG, n = 13). Results The 28-day mortality was 30% in the SSG. The APACHE II-, SOFA-, and SAPS-scores and the values of bilirubin and prothrombin time as INR were significantly higher in the SSG than in the NSG. The cytochrome 1A2 activity and the release of albumin were significantly reduced in HepG2/C3A cells incubated with plasma of the SSG ( p