Impact of Regular Hemodialysis on Short- and Long-Term Liver Function Evaluated by The Galactose Single Point Test

BACKGROUND: Liver illness significantly exacerbates the advancement of end-stage renal disease [ESRD]. Patients on long-term maintenance hemodialysis may experience enhanced liver function. The galactose single point [GSP] test is a novel technique for evaluating residual liver function.AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aims to assess the influence of regular hemodialysis on liver function, as measured by the galactose single-point test.METHODOLOGY: This prospective cohort study involved recruiting 80 patients on regular dialysis from the hemodialysis unit of the Internal Medicine department at Al-Azhar University Hospital, New Damietta, who met our selection criteria for six months.RESULTS: We found a powerful negative correlation between GSP and months of dialysis; significant negative correlations are observed between hemodialysis duration and both post-dialysis GSP and predialysis GSP, indicating that longer hemodialysis duration is associated with lower levels of GSP before and after dialysis.CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis maintenance observe a positive enhancement in liver functionality. Galactose metabolism relies on both liver blood flow and hepatic functional mass. It is possible that after hemodialysis [HD], there is a modest increase in blood flow to the liver, potentially leading to enhanced liver function, as observed in the GSP test.