Alterations in biochemical functions during hyperthermic isolation-perfusion of the human liver

Hyperthermia (42–42.5°) was applied to the liver of eight patients with cancer in the liver by a technique of isolation-perfusion. Hepatic functional integrity was assessed during perfusion through measurement of multiple perfusate constituents. Data from seven perfusions were available for analysis. During perfusion there was an increase in perfusate lactate, pyruvate, glucose, urea, potassium, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, and LDH. All increases in these constituents were significant ( P < 0.05) except for potassium. Lactate accumulated throughout the perfusion from an initial level of 3.8 ± 1.0 m M to 7.6 ± 3.5 m M at 4 hr. Pyruvate increased over the first 3 hr of perfusion from 0.14 ± 0.06 m M to 0.80 ± 0.37 m M before declining to 0.54 ± 0.24 m M at 4 hr. The L/P (lactate/pyruvate) ratio decreased during perfusion to