A History of the Assessment of Liver Performance

Abstract

FIG 1 Greek inspection of the liver, depicted on a big-bellied amphora decorated with red figures by the Kleophrades Painter (510-470 BCE). Müler K. 1967 Die Leberschau in der Antike. Deutsche Laevosan-Gesellschaft, Mannheim.

Review article: New developments in biomarkers and clinical drug development in alpha‐1 antitrypsin deficiency‐related liver disease

“…Historically, it has been appreciated that the normal liver is soft and pliable while injured and cirrhotic liver is 'hard'. 57 Liver stiffness can be assessed using various forms of elastography: an excitation source (ultrasound or low-frequency vibrations) is used to generate shear waves and velocity (i.e. liver stiffness) is quantified using Young's modulus (measured in kPa) or shear wave speed (m/s).…”

“…Perhaps the most promising recent advances in assessing AATLD non‐invasively have occurred in the field of liver stiffness measurement. Historically, it has been appreciated that the normal liver is soft and pliable while injured and cirrhotic liver is ‘hard’ 57 . Liver stiffness can be assessed using various forms of elastography: an excitation source (ultrasound or low‐frequency vibrations) is used to generate shear waves and velocity (i.e.…”

Assessing Pharmacokinetics in Liver Disease: Challenges and Future Considerations for Classification of Hepatic Dysfunction and Use of In Silico Methods

“…Dynamic tests that use exogenous markers to assess liver blood flow (eg, indocyanine green) or metabolic routes (eg, antipyrine test) are another means to assess hepatic function. However, many of these tests are not routinely conducted in HI studies, and given the likely differential impact of disease on various cytochrome P450 enzymes as well as other pathways, their ability to classify overall HI is unclear 8 . Imaging methods to assess the degree of portal hypertension may also aid in the description of the effect of HI on PK 9 .…”

“…However, many of these tests are not routinely conducted in HI studies, and given the likely differential impact of disease on various cytochrome P450 enzymes as well as other pathways, their ability to classify overall HI is unclear. 8 Imaging methods to assess the degree of portal hypertension may also aid in the description of the effect of HI on PK. 9 The exact utility of these markers and methods in assessing HI has not been fully elucidated.…”

A history of research into the physiology of bile, from Hippocrates to molecular medicine

“…60 Then, Emmanuel Jacquemin, working in the late Peter Meier's laboratory in Zurich, made an important advance. He cloned the first organic anion transporter, called organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP), 61,62 located on the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes and responsible for the hepatocellular uptake of the dye sulfobromophthalein (bromsulfthalein), which was once used extensively in humans (both clinically and experimentally) and animals in testing liver function 63 and of the sodiumindependent uptake of conjugated bile acids. Since then the group of OATPs (now named solute carriers [SLCs]) has been considerably extended: it includes more than 300 members organized into more than 60 families.…”