• The pathophysiologic mechanisms for the metabolism of hepatic failure and severe sepsis are complex, and in many ways similar. The similarities concern abnormalities in peripheral and hepatic protein metabolism. The ability of enteral and parenteral solutions containing increased amounts of branched-chain amino acids to ameliorate many of the derangements observed in these disease states relates to this shared pathophysiology.
(Arch Intern Med 1985;145:1284-1288)