Hepatic foetor

There can be a pronounced increase in methionine and its derivatives in acute liver failure or in serious cases of cirrhosis. From these substances, mercaptans are formed in the colon (e. g. methandiol, ethandiol, dimethyldisul-phide). The cause of the sweetish aromatic smell of the expiratory air ( fresh-raw liver ) known as hepatic foetor (F. Umber, 1926 L. Schiff, 1946) is deemed to be volatile dimethylsulphide. (38) Its concentration does not correlate with the degree of encephalopathy or hepatic insufficiency, but with the intensity of the portosystemic shunts. Trimethylamine is also suspected of being a causative factor. (22) (s.pp 267, 379)... 

Hepatic foetor The sweet aromatic smell of the exhaled breath (mercaptan derivatives) is accepted as a reliable sign of acute liver failure, but it is not always present. The administration of poorly absorbable antibiotics (e.g. paromomycin) usually improves the condition of hepatic foetor or even eliminates it temporarily, (s. pp 87, 267)... 

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