Hepatic Function Measurements and Disorders

The liver is the central organ that filters, stores, and detoxifies blood and its constituents. Thus, it is highly susceptible to a host of injuries because of its portal location and physiologic function. Blood distribution gradient exists within the liver and this heterogeneity results in differential exposure of various parts of the organ to injury. Hepatocytes closest to the portal vein and hepatic artery receive oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood supply, which makes them less susceptible to injury than those distal to blood supply [2]. 

Vulnerability of the liver to injury necessitates routine evaluation of hepatic function in patients and asymptomatic individuals to avert or control adverse clinical conditions. Thus, a plethora of methods has been developed for the diagnosis of liver diseases and dysfunctions. One such method uses physical palpation to determine alterations or changes in the orientation of the liver, which provides valuable information about the organ status but the quality of information is subjective and imprecise [3]. Another common method for the diagnosis of more serious hepatic injuries involves liver biopsies coupled with biochemical tests to determine the extent of liver injury and prognosis [4-7]. However, in acute and some chronic hepatic disorders, dynamic and continuous hepatic function monitoring would be advantageous. 

Dynamic Hepatic Function Monitoring with Exogenous Organ-Specific Ciearance Markers 

Although several markers for functional hepatic mass determination are currently used in clinical settings, most of them were originally used as drugs for various medical interventions. Nonetheless, these markers remain the mainstay of dynamic hepatic function monitoring, some of which are discussed below. 

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