Measurement of the Lidocaine Metabolite, Monoethylglycinexylidide, as a Liver Functional Test for Cirrhosis and Obstructive Jaundice

Osamu Kainuma, Takehide Asano, Kazuo Enomoto, Toru Kubota, Kaichi Isono

Second Department of Surgery, Chiba University School of Medicine

Serum levels of the lidocaine metabolite, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) were measurd, 5 to 30 min after bolus injection of lidocaine, by fluorescent polarization immunoassay method, MEGX concentrations 15 min after injection (MEGX 15) in patients with cirrhosis (32.4±17.9 ng/ml) and in patients with obstructive jaundice (34.8±18.2 ng/ml) were significantly decreased, compared to persons with normal livers (66.8±19.0 ng/ml) (p<0.01). Serum levels of MEGX 15 significantly correlated with indocyaninegreen retention rate after 15 minutes and serum choline esterase. Lidocaine metabolism is mainly dependent on hepatocyte cytochrome P-450 activity, therefore, MEGX 15 is an index of the functional liver mass. This method is not enfluenced by a bilirubin concentration of 15 mg/dl and is easy and accurate. The measurement of MEGX 15 is recommended as a method of assessing liver function in cirrhosis and obstructive jaundice.

Key words
lidocaine, monoethylglycinexylidide, functional liver mass, cytochrome P-450, fluorescent polalization immunoassay

Reprint requests
Osamu Kainuma Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Chiba University
1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 280 JAPAN

Accepted
May 8, 1991

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