Phosphate metabolism in chronic liver disease.

Phosphate metabolism was investigated in 26 patients with a spectrum of liver diseases and mean fasting plasma phosphate concentrations were in the low normal range. A standard oral load of phosphate was used to test absorption and was subnormal in the majority of patients with large bile-duct obstruction and alcoholic liver disease. Subnormal results were also seen in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and cirrhosis secondary to chronic active hepatitis. These abnormalities appeared to be related to vitamin-D deficiency. Tubular reabsorption of phosohate was markedly reduced in 3 of 14 patients. The therapeutic implications of phosphate status in liver disease are important.