Risk factor for ischemic-type biliary lesion after ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation

AIM: To evaluate the risk factors for ischemic-type biliary lesion(ITBL) after ABO-incompatible(ABO-I) adult living donor liver transplantation(ALDLT).METHODS: Among 141 ALDLTs performed in our hospital between 2008 and 2014, 27(19%) were ABO-I ALDLT and 114 were ABO-identical/compatible ALDLT. In this study, we extensively analyzed the clinico-pathological data of the 27 ABO-I recipients to determine the risk factors for ITBL after ABO-I ALDLT. All ABO-I ALDLT recipients underwent an identical B-cell depletion protocol with preoperative rituximab, plasma exchange(PE), and operative splenectomy. The median follow-up period after transplantation was 26 mo. The clinical outcomes of the 27 ABO-I ALDLT recipients were compared with those of 114 ABO-identical/compatible ALDLT recipients.RESULTS: ITBL occurred in four recipients(14.8%) between 45 and 112 d after ABO-I ALDLT. The overall survival rates were not different between ABO-I ALDLT and ABO-identical/compatible ALDLT(P = 0.303). Among the ABO-I ALDLT recipients, there was no difference between patients with ITBL and those without ITBL in terms of B-cell and T-cell count, serum isoagglutinin titers, number of PEs, operative time and transfusion, use of graft infusion therapy, or number of remnant B-cell follicles and plasma cells in the spleen. However, the perioperative NK cell counts in the blood of patients with ITBL were significantly higher than those in the patients without ITBL(P < 0.05). Preoperative NK cell count > 150/μL and postoperative NK cell count > 120/μL were associated with greater relative risks(RR) for development of ITBL(RR = 20 and 14.3, respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High NK cell counts in a transplant recipient's blood are associated with ITBL after ABO-I ALDLT. Further research is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of NK cell involvement in the development of ITBL.

Urokinase perfusion prevents intrahepatic ischemic-type biliary lesion in donor livers

AIM： To evaluate whether urokinase perfusion of non-heart-beating cadaveric donor livers reduces the incidence of intrahepatic ischemic-type biliary lesions （IITBLs）. METHODS： A prospective study was conducted to investigate potential microthrombosis in biliary microcirculation when non-heart-beating cadaveric livers were under warm or cold ischemic conditions. The experimental group included 140 patients who underwent liver transplantation during the period of January 2006 to December 2007, and survived for more than 1 year. The control group included 220 patients who received liver transplantation between July 1999 and December 2005 and survived for more than 1 year. In the experimental group, the arterial system of the donor liver was perfused twice with urokinase during cold perfusion and after trimming of the donor liver. The incidence of IITBLs was compared between the two groups. RESULTS： In the control group, the incidence of IITBLs was 5.9% （13/220 cases） after 3-11 mo of transplantation. In the experimental group, two recipients （1.4%） developed IITBLs at 3 and 6 mo after transplantation, respectively. The difference in the incidence between the two groups was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Double from non-heart-beating perfusion of cadaveric livers donors with urokinase may reduce the incidence of IITBLs.

Liver retransplantation for ischemic-type biliary lesions after orthotopic liver transplantation:a clinical report of 66 cases

BACKGROUND: Ischemic-type biliary lesions (ITBLs) play an extremely important role in influencing the long-term survival and quality of life of recipients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Some patients can be cured by interventional therapies, however others lose their grafts at last and receive liver retransplantation (re-OLT). The aim of this study was to analyze the data of 66 patients who had received re-OLT at our center because of ITBL and to discuss the treatment of ITBL after OLT. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 66 re-OLT cases due to ITBL from September 2001 to February 2007 at our center. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox-Mantel test were used to identify factors associated with mortality for univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, respectively. RESULTS: Fifty-five of 66 ITBL cases underwent interventional therapies before re-OLT. The actuarial survival at I month and I year for these patients was 83% and 74%, respectively. Prognostic factors for mortality in univariate analysis were model of end-stage liver disease score (MELD) >16.5 (chi(2)=5.856, P=0.016), cold ischemia time >8 hours (chi(2)=6.539, P=0.011), infections (chi(2)=5.550, P=0.018) and complications (chi(2)=12.168, P=0.002) after re-OLT. In the multivariate analysis (Cox regression), the risk factors independently associated with mortality were MELD score >16.5 (RR: 3.140; P=0.035), cold ischemia time >8.2 hours (RR: 0.192; P=0.016) and complications (RR: 3.896, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of ITBL in China is higher than in other countries. Based on our experience, MELD score, cold ischemia time and complications after re-OLT are risk factors independently associated with mortality in retransplanted ITBL patients.

Preventive effects of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell implantation on intrahepatic ischemic-type biliary lesion in rabbits

BACKGROUND: The ischemic-type biliary lesion (ITBL) is one of the most serious biliary complications of liver transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) implantation on neovascularization and the prevention of intrahepatic ITBL in a rabbit model. METHODS: The rabbits were divided into control, experimental model, and cell implantation groups, with 10 in each group. The model of intrahepatic ITBL was established by clamping the hepatic artery and common bile duct. Autologous BM-MNCs were isolated from the tibial plateau by density gradient centrifugation and were implanted through the common hepatic artery. Changes in such biochemical markers as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin were measured. Four weeks after operation, cholangiography, histopathological manifestations, differentiation of BM-MNCs, microvessel density and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the experimental model group, the BM-MNC implantation group showed superiority in the time to recover normal biochemistry. The microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression of the implantation group were significantly higher than those of the control and experimental model groups. The ITBL in the experimental model group was more severe than that in the implantation group and fewer new capillary blood vessels occurred around it. CONCLUSIONS: Implanted autologous BM-MNCs can differentiate into vascular endothelial cells, promote neovascularization and improve the blood supply to the ischemic bile duct, and this provides a new way to diminish or prevent intrahepatic ITBL after liver transplantation. (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2010; 9:593-599)

Biliary complications in orthotopic liver transplantation:mechanism,diagnosis and treatment

Biliary complicationsfBC） are a major cause of morbidity in liver transplant recipients with an incidence of 10-30% following orthotopic liver transplantation（OLT）, and a mortality rate of up to 10%. The most common biliary complications are bile leaks, biliary strictures, ampullary dysfunction, and stones. Leaks predominate in the early posttransplant period; while stricture formation typically develops gradually over time. Risk factors for biliary complications comprise technical failure, T-tube-related complications, hepatic artery thrombosis, bleeding, ischemia/reperfusion injury, primary diseases, and other immunological, non-immunological, and infectious complications. Cholangiography, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatograpby（ERCP） or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram（PTC）, is considered the gold standard for identifying post-transplant BC. The management of biliary complications after OLT requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which interventional radiology and endoscopic techniques are emerging as the preferred treatment option, but in a selected majority of patients, surgery is still necessary.

Impact of machine perfusion of the liver on post-transplant biliary complications: A systematic review

AIM To review the clinical impact of machine perfusion(MP) of the liver on biliary complications post-transplantation, particularly ischaemic-type biliary lesions(ITBL). METHODS This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalysis(PRISMA) protocol. The following databases were searched: PubMed, MEDLINE and Scopus. The keyword "liver transplantation" was used in combination with the free term "machine perfusion". Clinical studies reporting results of transplantation of donor human livers following ex situ or in situ MP were analysed. Details relating to donor characteristics, recipients, technique of MP performed and post-operative biliary complications(ITBL, bile leak and anastomotic strictures) were critically analysed.RESULTS Fifteen articles were considered to fit the criteria for this review. Ex situ normothermic MP was used in 6 studies, ex situ hypothermic MP in 5 studies and the other 4 studies investigated in situ normothermic regional perfusion(NRP) and controlled oxygenated rewarming. MP techniques which have per se the potential to alleviate ischaemia-reperfusion injury: Such as hypothermic MP and NRP, have also reported lower rates of ITBL. Other biliary complications, such as biliary leak and anastomotic biliary strictures, are reported with similar incidences with all MP techniques. There is currently less clinical evidence available to support normothermic MP as a mitigator of biliary complications following liver transplantation. On the other hand, restoration of organ to full metabolism during normothermic MP allows assessment of hepatobiliary function before transplantation, although universally accepted criteria have yet to be validated.CONCLUSION MP of the liver has the potential to have a positive impact on post-transplant biliary complications, specifically ITBL, and expand extended criteria donor livers utilisation.