Effect of Intravenous Infusions of Ethanol upon Estimated Hepatic Blood Flow in Man1

Abstract

Infusions of 5% ethanol in saline at rates maintaining peripheral blood concentrations of ethanol at 25-75 mg/100 ml increased estimated hepatic blood flow in 5 subjects; the increases over baseline values ranged from 27-58%. Since there was no evidence that ethanol interfered with hepatic removal of sulfobro -mophthalein sodium (Bromsulfalein), it is suggested that the increases observed were due to lowering of splanchnic peripheral resistance.