Studies on galactose tolerance test in patients with liver disease.

Oral galactose tolerance tests were performed on 56 patients with liver disease, 31 with diabetes mellitus and 17 normal subjects. Intravenous galactose tolerance tests were done on 25 liver disease, 6 diabetes mellitus and 6 normal subjects. Each liver disease was histologically comfirmed by needle biopsy under laparoscopy. Serum galactose and glucose were measured gaschromatographically. Oral galactose tolerance test is useful for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis, but metabolic disorder of galactose can be found in diabetics. Therefore abnormalities in oral galactose tolerance test do not necessarily mean the existence of hepatic damage. There exists a relatively good correlation be· tween the degree of abnormal oral galactose tolerance test and the level of serum r-globulin, cholinesterase and ICG disappearance rate. As for intravenous galactose tolerance test, half life is a useful index as well as oral glaactose tolerance test. But it can be concluded that oral galactose tolerance test is superior to intravenous galactose tolerance test from the point of view of technical simplicity and the burden to patients.