Clinical Evaluation of Galactose Tolerance Test as an Index of Liver Dysfunction with Special Reference to the Glucoseoxidase-O-Toluidine Boric Acid Method for Determination of Galactose in Blood

The authors have made a review of the merits and disadvantages of the oral galactose tolerance test by administration of 40 g of galactose reported earlier. The oral galactose tolerance curve in all cases with hepatic insufficiency was higher than the values of normal persons. Specifically, the blood galactose value in cases with liver cirrhosis was elevated, showing a peak at 90 minutes compared to 60 minutes in all other disease states and in normal persons. It was found that the use of the post administration 120 minute value was satisfactory for the determination of presence or absebce of hepatic insufficiency. Therefore, it was found that for routine tests it was not necessary to plot the tolorance curve based on several repeated blood samples, but that 2 samples, one collected prior to administration and the other at 120 minutes after administration were sufficient. When the latter value was more than 20 mg/dl, indication retention in the blood, this could be interpreted as confirming the presence of a liver disorder. However, consideration should be given to the fact that the blood galctose value is also high in diabetes mellitus. It was noted that correlation between the 120 minute value and other liver function tests was poor and that the galactose tolerance test was an independent liver function test which gace results that changed according to the disease stage and degree of severity and thus was useful in determining the state of recovery of hepatic function.