A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF HEPATOCELLULAR FUNCTION AFTER REPEATED EXPOSURES TO HALOTHANE OR ENFLURANE IN WOMEN UNDERGOING RADIUM THERAPY FOR CERVICAL CANCER

Ninety-nine Black females receiving radium therapy for carcinomaof the cervix uteri under either halothane (50 patients) orenflurane (49 patients) anaesthesia were studied. Thirty-sixreceived a second and 13 a third exposure to halothane or enflurane.There were no significant changes from the control values inthe serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (s.g.o.t.),gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GT), lactic dehydrogenase (SLD),alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and proteins. Total serum bilirubin(TSB) decreased significantly during the first exposure to enflurane(P< 0.01). This trend was reversed with subsequent anaestheticsin both the halothane and enflurane groups.