Effect of prostaglandin E1 on ammonia concentration in blood of patients with hepatic resection

Plasma concentrations of ammonia were examined following prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁) administration in 16 patients who received hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. PGE₁ at 0.01–0.04 g/kg/min was administered for approximately 24 hr during the perioperative periods. The ammonia concentration was reduced a day after the operation following intravenous administration of PGE₁ in cirrhotic patients compared to noncirrhotic patients with or without PGE₁ injection. Serum liver function scores, glutamic pyruvic transminase, and total bilirubin concentrations were decreased after PGE₁ administration. A similar ammonia response due to PGE₁ was obtained after operation in cirrhotic patients when PGE₁ 0.5 g/kg was administered intravenously for 30 min. These results suggest that PGE₁ administration is useful in reducing the enhanced ammonia concentration associated with hepatic resection, and it is particularly effective in the case of liver cirrhosis.