LSE requires no learning curve: a novice is able to obtain a reliable result after a single training session, whatever the professional status. However, success rate will progressively increase. An LSE with less than four valid measurements should not be considered as reliable.
The synchronous combination of a blood test plus LSE improves the accuracy of the non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis and, consequently, markedly decreases the biopsy requirement in the diagnostic algorithm, notably to <10% in cirrhosis diagnosis.
The disposition kinetics of ofloxacin, a quinolone antibacterial agent excreted essentially unmodified by the kidney, was studied after single oral administration in 8 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis and in 8 control subjects. Mean elimination half-life and apparent volume of distribution were significantly increased in the cirrhotic group (7.6 vs. 4.9 h and 1.6 vs. 1.2 liters kg-1, respectively). A reduction in the renal clearance of ofloxacin was also observed in the cirrhotic patients, in spite of an apparently normal renal function. These observations indicate that also the pharmacokinetics of unmetabolized drugs may be altered in compensated liver cirrhosis. The serum concentration-time profiles of nearly all subjects exhibited a secondary peak 4-6 h after dosing. This double-peak behavior was interpreted as either enterohepatic circulation or biphasic gastric emptying of ofloxacin.
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