再次肝移植的原因与预后分析

目的探讨再次肝移植的原因和预后。方法回顾性分析2003年11月26日至2012年5月26日期间笔者所在医院行再次肝移植215例患者的临床资料,分析其再次肝移植的原因与预后。结果笔者所在医院完成再次肝移植215例,其中行2次肝移植200例,3次肝移植14例,4次肝移植1例。第2次肝移植的主要原因为胆道并发症（53.5%,115/215）,其次为肝移植物原发性无功能或功能低下（8.4%,18/215）;第3次肝移植的原因主要为胆道并发症（5/14）,其次为肝癌复发（2/14）。早期（肝移植术后1个月内）与后期（肝移植术后1个月后）第2次肝移植移植物生存率比较差异有统计学意义（P=0.005）,后期第2次肝移植移植物生存率较高。第3次肝移植移植物生存率低于第2次肝移植（P=0.043）。与胆道并发症者比较,肝癌复发者（P=0.001）和肝移植物原发性无功能或功能低下者（P=0.033）移植物生存率较低,慢性移植肝失功能者移植物生存率较高（P=0.037）。结论胆道并发症为再次肝移植的最主要原因。移植后早期行再次肝移植的效果不佳,其主要原因是围手术期的死亡增加。因肝癌复发而行再次肝移植患者移植物的预后不理想,而慢性移植肝失功能患者移植物的预后最佳。     

The calcium channel blocker nisoldipine minimizes the release of tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 following rat liver transplantation

Kupffer cells, when activated, release toxic cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which can cause tissue injury. Takei et al. have reported that nisoldipine, a calcium channel blocker which decreases phagocytotic activity by Kupffer cells, also diminishes liver and lung injury and dramatically improves survival following liver transplantation [27]. Therefore, we studied the effect of nisoldipine on the time course of TNF and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release following cold storage and liver transplantation in the rat. Livers were stored under survival and non-survival conditions in cold Euro-Collins solution in the presence or absence of nisoldipine (1.4 µM). After storage, the effluent was collected for determination of cytokines. The liver was then transplanted orthotopically and serum was collected at various time intervals for up to 5 h. In the effluent, TNF levels were very low in both the control and nisoldipine-treated groups and IL-6 was not measurable. Furthermore, when livers were stored under survival conditions and transplanted (liver stored in the cold for 4 h), serum TNF (2 U/ml) and IL-6 (350 U/ml) values were minimal in both the control and nisoldipine-treated groups. In contrast, when livers were stored under non-survival conditions and transplanted (liver stored in the cold for 10 h), TNF levels increased to 15 ± 2 U/ml, 150 min after graft reperfusion, an increase which was prevented by nisoldipine (6.5 U/ml). Serum IL-6 levels were also elevated 300 min after transplantation in livers stored for 10 h. Nisoldipine also reduced the release of this cytokine. Serum transaminases (SGOT) were elevated to values around 2000 U/l 5 h following transplantation. In the nisoldipine-treated group, values were lower between 60 and 300 min. In the lung, interstitial and alveolar edema and cellular infiltration were detectable 5 h post-operatively and were diminished by nisoldipine. These data confirmed that TNF and IL-6 release were minimal following cold storage and transplantation of livers stored under survival conditions, but were elevated transiently after transplantation under non-survival conditions. Nisoldipine prevented cytokine release, most likely by blocking the activation of Kupffer cells, which may explain how it decreases liver and lung injury very early following liver transplantation.     

Protective effects of the lazaroid U74500A and lidoflazine on liver preservation with UW solution

The effect of adding a 21-aminosteroid, U74500A, and a Ca²⁺ antagonist, lidoflazine, alone and together to UW solution was assessed in a rat liver preservation model. Following preservation, the livers were reperfused using a closed circuit, and the release of hepatocellular enzymes (ASAT, ALAT, and LDH) into the perfusate was determined with increasing time. Both drugs reduced the amount of enzymes lost from the liver. The combination of the two drugs was better than either drug alone. These data suggest that both agents may be of value in organ preservation for clinical liver transplantation.     

Effect of macrovescicular steatosis and other donor and recipient characteristics on the outcome of liver transplantation

The influence of steatosis and of other donor and recipient characteristics in affecting liver performance post-orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was evaluated in 311 consecutive liver transplantations made in 278 patients. Donor variables considered were age, sex, blood group, cause of death, intensive care unit (ICU) days, need for vasopressors, hepatic enzymes and bilirubin, total and warm ischemia time, and macro- and microvescicular steatosis. Recipient variables considered were age, sex, blood group, biliary output, and post-OLT peak levels of hepatic enzymes. Patient and graft survival were the main outcome indicators. In the multivariate analysis, macrovescicular steatosis involving 25% or more of the hepatocytes was the only variable independently associated with shorter patient survival (p < 0.05). Five (62.5%) of the eight livers with macrovescicular steatosis involving 25% or more of the hepatocytes incurred in a delayed non-function (DNF) and one (12.5%) in a primary non-function (PRNF). The incidence of DNF and PRNF in the group with macrovescicular steatosis involving less than 25% of the liver cells was 1.6% (p < 0.001) and 2.3%, respectively. Microvescicular steatosis of any degree was not associated with a worse prognosis. Macrovescicular steatosis involving 25% or more of the hepatocytes identifies marginal livers, the use of which significantly increases the risk of graft non-function post-OLT.     

Tauroursodeoxycholate ameliorates reperfusion injury after pig liver transplantation

Reperfusion injury is a serious problem after clinical liver transplantation, often leading to dys- or even non-function of grafts. The present study was designed to determine whether the hydrophilic bile salt tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC), known to be hepatoprotective in cholestatic liver disease, mitigates reperfusion injury in an in vivo pig liver transplantation model. Liver transplantation was performed in 12 pigs after a preservation time of 8 h. TUDC was administered to donor and recipient animals, and saline to controls. Blood was drawn at different time points for determination of liver enzymes. Bile samples were collected, and bile flow (BF), and bile salt secretion rate (BSSR) determined. Samples of liver tissue and bile ducts were taken for assessment by light and electron microscopy. Liver enzymes were significantly lower in the TUDC group. BF and BSSR were significantly higher. Microscopy revealed better preservation of bile duct architecture of the TUDC-infused animals. We can conclude that infusions of TUDC in pig livers ameliorate reperfusion injury in vivo. The molecular basis for this finding may be the membrane stabilizing effect of TUDC. Further studies are warranted to clarify its effect. Received: 19 February 1999 Received after revision: 23 August 1999 Accepted: 16 September 1999     

A rapid, simple, and cost-effective method for screening liver preservation solutions in the rat

BACKGROUND: Rat liver transplantation models or isolated liver perfusion models are currently used for assessing efficacy of liver preservation methods. We tested the hypothesis that hepatocellular enzymes released into the washout solution after preservation may predict hepatic function during reperfusion and could thus be alternatively used for evaluating efficiency of liver preservation solutions. Furthermore, we applied this approach for assessing the role of Kupffer cells (KC) in preservation-induced liver damage. METHODS: After preservation in University of Wisconsin (UW) or Euro-Collins (EC) solution, rat livers were washed with Ringer-lactate solution. Correlations between enzymes released into the washout solution and hepatocyte functional parameters determined during reperfusion on using a blood-free perfusion model were investigated. RESULTS: In UW-preserved livers, acid phosphatase (ACP) activity correlated negatively with bile flow (R = -0.904), taurocholate intrinsic clearance (R = -0.841), and bromosulfophthalein excretion (R = -0.831). Both alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase activities correlated with the functional parameters investigated. In EC-stored livers, correlation was also found between ACP activity and bile flow (R = -0.666). Livers stored in UW solution exhibited approximately 3 times lower washout activities of enzymes studied than livers stored in EC solution. Mitochondria isolated from UW-stored livers exhibited significantly better function than those isolated from EC-stored livers. Blockade of KC did not influence enzyme release into the washout solution. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of ACP, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase activities in the washout solution can be used as a rapid, simple, and cost-effective way for screening liver preservation solutions. The results also suggest that KC were not involved in preservation-induced liver damage.     

Minimizing oxidative stress by gene delivery of superoxide dismutase accelerates regeneration after transplantation of reduced-size livers in the rat.

Transplantation of reduced-size livers may lead to a hypermetabolic state and increased production of oxygen radicals. Since oxygen radicals may cause liver injury and impair liver regeneration, we tested the hypothesis that overexpression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in reduced-size livers (RSL) would accelerate regeneration and reduce injury in a rat model of transplantation of RSL. Donor rats were infected with adenoviruses either expressing SOD1 (Ad.SOD1) or beta-galactosidase (Ad.lacZ). Livers were harvested 72 hours later, reduced to 45% of weight, and transplanted. After transplantation, hepatic SOD activity, graft survival, histopathology, AST/ALT release, and bilirubin were examined. Regeneration was evaluated by BrdU-staining, graft weight, and expression of cyclin D1 and p21. In Ad.SOD1-treated livergrafts, SOD activity increased three-fold compared to controls. Survival was dramatically increased in recipients of Ad.SOD1-RSL (100% vs. 20% in Ad.lacZ-RSL), and peak levels of AST/ALT and bilirubin levels were reduced by 75% and 87.5%, respectively (P < 0.001). In histological sections, hepatocyte necrosis decreased from 24% after Ad.lacZ-treatment to 6% after Ad.SOD1-treatment (P <0.001). Regeneration was also accelerated after Ad.SOD1-treatment as demonstrated by an increase of BrdU-stained cells 24 hours after reperfusion and increased liver weight after 1 week. In conclusion, overexpression of SOD1 in RSL prevents primary non-function of reduced-size liver grafts and accelerates liver regeneration.     

Coagulation disorders during orthotopic liver transplantation

Coagulation disorders have been noted during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) especially just after reperfusion of the grafted liver. This study was undertaken to clarify the coagulation disorders following reperfusion of the liver graft. OLT was carried out in adult mongrel dogs using a cuff technique. Fresh and 24-hour preserved livers were grafted. Platelet count (P1), activated partial thromboplastin time (A-PTT), prothrombin time (PT) and plasma fibrinogen levels (Fng) were measured before and after OLT. Next perfusate obtained from fresh livers or preserved livers for 24-hours or 48-hours was determined for their ability of inducing coagulation disorders when infused in untreated dogs, and was also tested for their activity of platelet aggregation, tissue thromboplastin (F-III), and plasminogen activator (PA). All dogs which received preserved livers showed a marked coagulation disorders including a decrease in P1 and Fng, and prolongation of A-PTT and PT, but the dogs with fresh liver grafts did not. Infusion of the perfusate collected from a perfusion of the preserved liver induced similar coagulation disorders in untreated dogs. The perfusate obtained from the preserved liver showed significant increased F-III activity as compared with that from fresh liver. On the other hand, neither direct platelet aggregation activity nor PA activity was seen or very low if any. These results indicate that F-III liberated from a damaged liver is responsible for the coagulation disorders after reperfusion of the graft in liver transplantation.     

Markers of allograft viability in the rat. Relationship between transplantation viability and liver function in the isolated perfused liver

The relationship between transplant viability and liver function has been examined. Wistar rat livers were preserved at 4 degrees C for increasing intervals and then transplanted into Wistar rat recipients. Two critical times were identified, the longest preservation period with 100% transplantation success (4 hr) and the shortest preservation period with 100% transplant failure (8 hr). The comparable critical times were also identified in livers preserved at 37 degrees C (1 hr and 2 hr). Liver functions were studied by the isolated perfused liver technique in other rat livers stored at 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C for the critical times. Two liver function tests, AST and LDH concentration in perfusate, discriminated between viable and nonviable livers across as well as within preservation groups. AST gave the best separation between viable and nonviable livers. Some functions such as ALT concentration in perfusate separated viable from non viable allografts only within preservation groups. Other liver functions were more sensitive to preservation temperature than allograft viability. Oxygen consumption after cold preservation for either critical time was about twice control levels. Urea production was far below control levels in warm-preserved livers but almost normal in cold-preserved livers. Our results indicate that AST release into perfusate can be used as a screening technique to optimize preservation methods, reserving transplantation for confirming the most promising results.     

Protection by pentoxifylline against graft failure from storage injury after orthotopic rat liver transplantation with arterialization

Destruction of the endothelial cell lining and activation of Kupffer cells after reperfusion limits the safe storage of livers for transplantation surgery. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) release by activated Kupffer cells may contribute to graft failure from storage injury. Accordingly, we evaluated whether pentoxifylline, which suppresses macrophage TNF release, would improve graft survival after orthotopic rat liver transplantation with arterialization. Livers from syngeneic Lewis rats were stored for 12–24 h in cold UW solution. Prior to implantation, the livers were flushed with cold Ringer's solution or warm Carolina rinse solution B. With either rinse, pentoxifylline treatment of graft recipients significantly improved graft survival. Combined use of pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg for 5 days) and Carolina rinse solution doubled the safe storage time to 24 h. Acidotic pH and antioxidants were essential components of Carolina rinse solution that acted synergistically with pentoxifylline. Pentoxifylline was also shown to suppress TNF release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultured rat Kupffer cells. Thus, pentoxifylline may protect against primary non-function and failure of grafts from storage injury by suppressing excessive TNF release by activated Kupffer cells. However, neutralization of TNF with excess anti-TNF antibody did not improve survival. This may mean that depletion of TNF is as deleterious as excess TNF production. Alternatively, other Kupffer cell secretions [e.g., interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other cytokines] may be involved in the pathogenesis of graft failure. In conclusion, pentoxifylline could protect against graft failure from storage injury.     

Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Cavitation During Machine Perfusion Reduces Microvascular Thrombi and Graft Injury in a Rat Liver Model of Donation After Circulatory Death

BackgroundIschemic cholangiopathy is a process of bile duct injury that might result from peribiliary vascular plexus (PBP) thrombosis and remains a dreaded complication in liver transplantation from donors after circulatory death (DCD). The aim of this study was to propose a mechanical method of clot destruction to clear microvascular thrombi in DCD livers before transplantation.MethodsSonothrombolysis (STL) is a process by which inertial cavitation of circulating microbubbles entering an ultrasound field create a high-energy shockwave at a microbubble-thrombus interface, causing mechanical clot destruction. The effectiveness of STL in DCD liver treatment remains unclear. We carried out STL treatment during normothermic, oxygenated, ex vivo machine perfusion (NMP), introducing microbubbles into the perfusate with the liver enveloped in an ultrasound field.ResultsThe STL livers showed reduction in hepatic arterial and PBP thrombus and decreases in hepatic arterial and portal venous flow resistance, reduced parenchymal injury as measured by aspartate transaminase release and oxygen consumption, and improved cholangiocyte function. Light and electron microscopy showed reduction of hepatic arterial and PBP thrombus in STL livers compared with controls and preserved hepatocyte structure, sinusoid endothelial morphology, and biliary epithelial microvilli.ConclusionIn this model, STL improved flow and functional measures in DCD livers undergoing NMP. These data suggest a novel therapeutic approach to treat PBP injury in DCD livers, which may ultimately increase the pool of grafts available to patients awaiting liver transplantation.     

Advantages of normothermic perfusion over cold storage in liver preservation

BACKGROUND: To minimize the ischemia-reperfusion injury that occurs to the liver with the current method of preservation and transplantation, we have used an extracorporeal circuit to preserve the liver with normothermic, oxygenated, sanguineous perfusion. In this study, we directly compared preservation by the standard method of simple cold storage in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution with preservation by perfusion. METHODS: Porcine livers were harvested from large white sows weighing between 30 and 50 kg by the standard procedure for human retrieval. The livers were preserved for 24 hr by either cold storage in UW solution (n=5) or by perfusion with oxygenated autologous blood at body temperature (n=5). The extracorporeal circuit used included a centrifugal pump, heat exchanger, and oxygenator. Both groups were then tested on the circuit for a 24 hr reperfusion phase, analyzing synthetic function, metabolic capacity, hemodynamics, markers of hepatocyte and reperfusion injury, and histology. RESULTS: Livers preserved with normothermic perfusion were significantly superior (P=0.05) to cold-stored livers in terms of bile production, factor V production, glucose metabolism, and galactose clearance. Cold-stored livers showed significantly higher levels of hepatocellular enzymes in the perfusate and were found to have significantly more damage by a blinded histological scoring system. CONCLUSIONS: Normothermic sanguineous oxygenated perfusion is a superior method of preservation compared with simple cold storage in UW solution. In addition, perfusion allows the possibility to assess viability of the graft before transplantation.     

Prediction of graft dysfunction by analysis of liver biopsies after cold storage

Abstract  Failure of the hepatic al-lograft continues to be a serious life-threatening risk for the recipient. Because no effective method of ex-tracorporeal support is available for these patients, early retransplanta-tion is the only alternative that offers the potential for survival. The aim of this prospective analysis was to search for a predictor of primary non-function of hepatic allografts before reperfusion. From March to June 1993 we investigated 19 liver biopsies which were obtained during the preparation of the donor liver in the back table bath immediately before the implantation of the organ. All organs were preserved by UW solution. Biopsies were stored at -80°C, the working-up process was started by dividing the biopsy into several portions for the determination of fat (petrol-ether extraction), water (weighing before thawing and after drying) and free amino acids (OPA-HPLC method). Graft function was categorized into three groups: (1) good function; (2) fair function; (3) primary non-function (PNF). In addition to known risk factors for delayed graft function such as a long stay of the donor in intensive care and a prolonged an-hepatic period of the recipient, we were able to demonstrate that organs with malfunction had a higher fat and water content. Donor livers developing PNF showed a trend towards higher total and subdivided amino acids, which could be explained by the incapacity of the liver to utilize available substrates for gluconeogenesis.     

Viability assay for liver transplantation

Various parameters were investigated to know whether a viability assay before liver transplantation was possible. Two series of experiment were performed. The first consisted of 2 groups of ischemically injured canine livers which had definitely different viability. GPT, bilirubin, lactate pyruvate ratio, ketone body ratio ammonium in the perfusate, hepatic tissue flow, and hepatic tissue oxygen consumption were measured during hypothermic machine perfusion at 6 degree C. As a result, tissue flow and tissue oxygen consumption were found to be good parameters because they indicated the viabilities of the isolated liver grafts accurately and instantly in the both groups. In the second series, 9 ischemically injured canine livers were hypothermically perfused to assay their viability and orthotopically transplanted. In the cases that the oxygen consumption was below 3.0 mumol/min./100g, no grafts sustained the lives of the recipients. We concluded that if we measure the oxygen consumption of hypothermically perfused livers, we can eliminate the low viability livers before transplantation and avoid primary graft non-function.     

Comparing Normothermic Machine Perfusion Preservation With Different Perfusates on Porcine Livers From Donors After Circulatory Death

The utilization of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) may be an effective strategy to resuscitate livers from donation after circulatory death (DCD). There is no consensus regarding the efficacy of different perfusates on graft and bile duct viability. The aim of this study was to compare, in an NMP porcine DCD model, the preservation potential of three different perfusates. Twenty porcine livers with 60 min of warm ischemia were separated into four preservation groups: cold storage (CS), NMP with Steen solution (Steen; XVIVO Perfusion Inc., Denver, CO), Steen plus red blood cells (RBCs), or whole blood (WB). All livers were preserved for 10 h and reperfused to simulate transplantation for 24 h. During preservation, the NMP with Steen group presented the highest hepatocellular injury. At reperfusion, the CS group had the lowest bile production and the worst hepatocellular injury compared with all other groups, followed by NMP with Steen; the Steen plus RBC and WB groups presented the best functional and hepatocellular injury outcomes, with WB livers showing lower aspartate aminotransferase release and a trend toward better results for most parameters. Based on our results, a perfusate that contains an oxygen carrier is most effective in a model of NMP porcine DCD livers compared with Steen solution. Specifically, WB‐perfused livers showed a trend toward better outcomes compared with Steen plus RBCs.     

An evaluation of viability tests of human cadaveric kidneys.

Cadaveric kidneys are sometimes unsuitable for transplantation because of possible ischaemic damage. The advent of perfusion preservation machines has enabled evaluation of perfusion characteristics and perfusate changes of organs prior to transplantation. This study has evaluated the changes in perfusate pH, lacate dehydrogenase, lactate and free fatty acid utilization in an attempt to identify those kidneys with ischaemic damage. In this investigation no single factor was discriminatory and it was not possible to predict with any degree of certainty those kidneys liable to delayed function or to non-function.     

Analysis of the Liver Effluent as a Marker of Preservation Injury and Early Graft Performance

In liver transplantation, the effluent solution, which represents the washout of residual preservation solution, can be collected before reperfusion to determine the release of the markers of endothelial cell injury and damage to the liver. The enzyme activities detected in the washout solution may allow the development of an index that could be clinically valuable for the prediction of early posttransplant graft function. In the present study, we collected liver effluents from 47 livers at the time of graft rinsing to measure liver enzymes (aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase) as well as the serum enzyme levels of the recipients for correlation with early postoperative graft viability (1-month survival). The patients were divided into two groups: death (D) and survival (S). Nonparametric statistical analysis was used with the level of significance set at P < .05. Aminotransferases and lactate dehydrogenase levels higher among the D group (P < .05 for all measurements), leading us to conclude that the effluent represents a good marker of preservation injury and early graft performance.     

Intrahepatic complement activation, sinusoidal endothelial injury, and lactic acidosis are associated with initial poor function of the liver after transplantation

BACKGROUND: Changes in glucose metabolism in the liver during transplantation have been recently described using microdialysis. Here, these findings are correlated with histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural changes in liver. METHODS: Microdialysis catheters were inserted into 15 human livers, which were perfused with isotonic solution, and samples of perfusate were analyzed before harvest, after storage, and after reperfusion. At each stage Menghini needle biopsy samples were taken and each studied using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Six livers showed serum biochemical evidence of initial poor function. These livers had significantly more staining for complement fragment 4d (C4d) of both lobular and periportal hepatocytes. C4d-positive hepatocytes were also found in the liver during cold storage (3 of 15). These periportal hepatocytes also showed evidence of necrosis and were found to have intracellular neutrophils. Hepatocyte rounding in zone III, necrosis, and C4d staining in recipient were also significantly correlated with the degree of lactic acidosis during this phase. Intrahepatic lactic acidosis at all time points was significantly associated with sinusoidal endothelial cell injury after reperfusion. There were no correlations between glucose, pyruvate, and glycerol levels and histopathologic changes in the liver. DISCUSSION: In the patients studied, the degree of C4d staining correlated with initial poor function and was associated with intrahepatic lactic acidosis in the donor during cold storage and after reperfusion. Complement activity in the liver during cold storage may be after in situ activation. Intrahepatic lactic acidosis is associated with sinusoidal endothelial cell and hepatocyte injury. The role of intrahepatic neutrophils is uncertain and could possibly be in response to cell necrosis.     

[beta ]-Galactosidase as a marker of ischemic injury and a mechanism for viability assessment in porcine liver transplantation

Glycohydrolases are a group of enzymes contained predominantly within lysosomes, which are released during Kupffer cell activation or death. One of these, [beta ]-galactosidase, has been proposed as a marker of ischemia-reperfusion injury in the liver because Kupffer cell activation represents a primary event in the injurious reperfusion cascade. In this study, we compared B-galactosidase with more traditional indicators of liver injury and function in a porcine model of liver preservation. Porcine livers were allocated into two groups: group C (n = 5), preserved in University of Wisconsin solution by standard cold storage for 24 hours, and group W (n = 5), perfused with oxygenated autologous blood on an extracorporeal circuit for 24 hours. Both groups were subsequently tested on the circuit during a 24-hour reperfusion phase. The perfusate was sampled for levels of [beta ]-galactosidase, as well as traditional markers of liver injury and function. A sharp increase in [beta ]-galactosidase levels was seen on reperfusion of cold preserved livers to a level of 1,900 IU/mL. This contrasted dramatically with normothermically preserved livers, in which the level never exceeded 208 IU/mL (P = .002). [beta ]-Galactosidase levels showed much earlier and greater increases compared with transaminase levels in livers injured by ischemia. A rapid elevation in [beta ]-galactosidase levels corresponded well with poor liver function and more liver injury. Measurement of [beta ]-galactosidase is a simple test that quantifies ischemia-reperfusion injury of preserved livers. It is more sensitive than transaminases, with faster and larger increases in levels after ischemic injury. It can be useful in assessing the viability of a liver during machine preservation. (Liver Transpl 2002;8:21-26.)     

The second generation of Carolina Rinse,solution II,improves graft survival following orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat by preventing reperfusion injury

Carolina Rinse solution was designed to minimize reperfusion injury following orthotopic liver transplantation. Carolina Rinse blocks reperfusion-induced endothelial cell killing, diminishes postoperative enzyme release and improves survival dramatically. Adenosine and mildly acidotic pH were identified as key components. Here we report results with a simplified formulation, Carolina Rinse H, which contains extracellular inorganic ions similar to Ringer's solution, adenosine, as well as antioxidants and radical scavengers (allopurinol, glutathione and desferrioxamine). In this study, 44 rat livers were explanted and stored for 12 h in University of Wisconsin (UW) cold storage solution (non-survival conditions). Control livers were rinsed with 15 ml cold Ringer's solution just prior to completion of implantation surgery. In this control group, average 30-day survival was poor (8%). However, survival was increased to around 60% when grafts were rinsed with Carolina Rinse II. Survival was not improved significantly by rinsing the graft with Ringer's solution containing antioxidants and radical scavengers with adenosine omitted (about 30%). Peak SGOT values of nearly 3000 U/l, measured 1–3 days postoperatively in the Ringer's rinse control group, were decreased 4- to 5-fold both by Carolina Rinse II and by Ringer's solution containing antioxidants. On the other hand, the addition of adenosine to Ringer's solution improved survival (around 60%) but did not decrease the postoperative elevation of serum enzymes significantly. Thus, it appears that adenosine was necessary for optimal survival whereas antioxidants and radical scavengers were needed to prevent injury to the transplanted graft. These data were consistent with the hypothesis that at least two mechanisms, one involving the liver and a second one non-hepatic, are responsible for post-transplant patho-physiology. Carolina Rinse II also reduced the postoperative elevation in serum enzymes 2- to 3-fold in livers stored under survival conditions (e. g., for 8 h in UW solution). This study demonstrated convincingly that a very simple rinse solution, Carolina Rinse II, improved survival significantly and minimized graft injury following orthotopic liver transplantation.