Portal Blood in Collateral Veins of Patients with Cirrhosis. Acetylation by the Intestine

Abstract

Summary

1. Portal origin of blood in abdominal collateral veins of patients with portal hypertension may be demonstrated simply and rapidly by feeding fluorescein or thiocyanate and finding higher concentrations in the abdominal veins than in the antecubital veins.

2. Seven out of 12 patients with cirrhosis gave positive tests for the portal origin of abdominal collateral vein blood. Patients with acites are more likely to give positive results than those without ascites.

3. Evidence is presented for the acetylation of PABA by the human intestinal tract.