Objective To explore the correlation between the prealbumin synthetic rate and liver function damage in patients with liver cirrhosis resulted from hepatitis. Methods The prealbumin synthetic rate was measured using isotope tracer technique of 15 N-lysine injected by intravenous followed by intravenous drop at constant rate in 23 patients with liver cirrhosis and 12 healthy subjects. Results Prealbumin synthetic rate in the patients decreased significantly than that in normal control(P