Use of indocyanine green as a test of liver function

Summary Indocyanine green, which has negligible extrahepatic uptake, should be an ideal test of liver function. Its use has been investigated in 92 patients using a dose of 0.1 mg./kg. and the results being expressed as percentage retention at 10 min.The following results were obtained: persons without liver disease, 0–20% retention; cirrhosis of the liver, 6–77%; secondary carcinoma of the liver, 25–35%; active infectious hepatitis, 22–59%; convalescent hepatitis, 9–20%. Only 3 of 21 patients with cirrhosis had values less than 20%; all 3 had normal B.S.P. retention values. It is concluded that indocyanine green retention offers a satisfactory and simple test of liver function.