Application of the optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method for the measurement of total haemoglobin mass in chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND: Anemia is common in liver cirrhosis. This generally infers a fall in total hemoglobin mass (tHb‐mass). However, hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) may fall due to an expansion in plasma volume (PV). The “optimized carbon monoxide rebreathing method” (oCOR) measures tHb‐mass directly and PV (indirectly using hematocrit). It relies upon carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) distribution throughout the entire circulation. In healthy subjects, such distribution is complete within 6–8 min. Given the altered circulatory dynamics in cirrhosis, we sought in this pilot study, to assess whether this was true in cirrhosis. The primary aim was to ascertain if the standard timings for the oCOR were applicable to patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. The secondary aim was to explore the applicability of standard CO dosing methodologies to this patient population. METHODS: Sixteen patients with chronic liver parenchymal disease were studied. However, tHb‐mass was determined using the standard oCOR technique before elective paracentesis. Three subjects had an inadequate COHb% rise. In the remaining 13 (11 male), mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 52 ± 13.8 years, body mass 79.1 ± 11.4 kg, height 175 ± 6.8 cm. To these, mean ± SD dose of carbon monoxide (CO) gas administered was 0.73 ± 0.13 ml/kg COHb values at baseline, 6 and 8 min (and “7‐min value”) were compared to those at 10, 12, 15 and 20 min after CO rebreathing. RESULTS: The “7‐min value” for median COHb% (IQR) of 6.30% (6.21%–7.47%) did not differ significantly from those at subsequent time points (8 min: 6.30% (6.21%–7.47%), 10 min: 6.33% (6.00%–7.50%), 12 min: 6.33% (5.90%–7.40%), 15 min: 6.37% (5.80%–7.33%), 20 min: 6.27% (5.70%–7.20%)). Mean difference in calculated tHb‐mass between minute 7 and minute 20 was only 4.1 g, or 0.6%, p = .68. No subjects reported any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The oCOR method can be safely used to measure tHb‐mass in patients with chronic liver disease and ascites, without adjustment of blood sample timings. Further work might refine and validate appropriate dosing regimens.