Long-term liver allograft fibrosis:A review with emphasis on idiopathic post-transplant hepatitis and chronic antibody mediated rejection

Liver transplantation(LT)is a life-saving surgical procedure and the current standard of care for most patients with end stage liver disease.With improvements in organ preservation techniques,perioperative care,and immunosuppression,there is better patient and graft survival following LT,and assessment of the liver allograft in long-term survivors is becoming increasingly important.Recurrent or de novo viral or autoimmune injury remains the most common causes of chronic hepatitis and fibrosis following liver transplantation in adults.However,no obvious cause can be identified in many adults with controlled recurrent disease and the majority of pediatric LT recipients,as they have been transplanted for non-recurrent liver diseases.Serial surveillance liver biopsies post LT have been evaluated in several adult and pediatric centers to identify long-term pathological changes.Pathological findings are frequently present in liver biopsies obtained after a year post LT.The significance of these findings is uncertain as many of these are seen in protocol liver biopsies from patients with clinically good allograft function and normal liver chemistry parameters.This narrative review summaries the factors predisposing to long-term liver allograft fibrosis,highlighting the putative role of idiopathic post-LT hepatitis and chronic antibody mediated rejection in its pathogenesis.

Pediatric living donor liver transplantation using liver allograft after ex vivo backtable resection of hemangioma: A case report

BACKGROUND Use of liver allograft with hepatic hemangioma after in vivo resection of hemangioma in living donor liver transplantation(LDLT)has been previously reported.However,there are few reports describing ex vivo backtable resection of hemangioma from liver allografts in LDLT.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old male was evaluated as a donor for an 8-month-year old patient with acute hepatic failure due to biliary atresia.Pre-operative contrast enhanced computed tomography revealed a 9 cm hemangioma in segment 4 with vascular variations in the donor.During LDLT,an intra-operative intrahepatic cholangiography was performed to ensure no variation in the anatomy of the intrahepatic bile duct.After intra-operative pathological diagnosis,ex vivo backtable resection of the hemangioma was performed and the liver allograft was transplanted into the recipient.The donor’s and recipient’s post-operative course were uneventful.At the 2-year follow-up,the liver allograft showed good regeneration without any recurrence of hemangioma.CONCLUSION Liver allografts with hemangiomas are an acceptable alternative strategy for LDLT.Ex vivo backtable resection of hemangioma from the donor liver during pediatric LDLT is safe and feasible,and can effectively reduce the operative time and intra-operative bleeding for the donor.

Gene transfer of huCTLA4-Ig to inhibit the acute rejection of liver allograft in rats

To observe the effect of gene transfer of huCTLA4-Ig to inhibit the acute rejection of liver allograft in rats.Methods With AdEasy vector system,the recombinant adenovirus containing huCTLA4-Ig gene was constructed.Using ex vivo gene transfer technique,exogenous gene was introduced to the liver graft during cold preservation and expressed locally in the graft.The effect of inhibition of acute rejection and inducing liver graft tolerance was observed.Results No recipients in group A (without any treatment,n=5) or group B (treated with Ad-GFP,n=4) died within 3 weeks after transplantation and severe acute rejection (massive periportal infiltration,endothelilitis,damage to biliary epithelium and severe tissue destruction) was confirmed pathologically in the graft.In contrast,all recipients in group C (treated with Ad-huCTLA4-Ig,n=5) achieved long-term liver allograft survival (>150 days).Histological examination of Ad-huCTLA4-Ig transduced allografts demonstrated a mild to moderate periportal inflammation and mild injury to liver graft on day 8 posttransplant.A mild mononuclear infiltration was observed;however,there was complete preservation of the bild ducts and no evidence of vascular injury on day 150 posttransplant.The mean IL-2 concentration in serum was (362.09±45.84) ng/L at day 1 pretransplant.In control animals (groups A and B),serum IL-2 concentration was elevated to a high level within 7 days posttransplant,which was about 1.5 to 2.5 times as much as that before transplant.In contrast,in huCTLA4-Ig-treated animals (groups C),IL-2 concentration in serum was maintained at a relative low level,which was near or less than that before transplant (P<0.01).Conclusion Using ex vivo gene transfer technique,huCTLA4-Ig gene can be introduced to the liver graft during cold preservation.The modified graft can express and excrete immunoregulatory protein locally,which can suppress acute alloimmune response and is responsible for prolongation of graft survival without using routine immunosuppressive drugs.These findings provide some experimental evidence that gene delivery of sequences encoding immunoregulatory proteins can be applied to clinical liver transplantation for inhibiting the acute alloimmune response and achieving graft tolerance.7 refs,2 tabs.

Rethinking de novo immune hepatitis,an old concept for liver allograft rejection:relevance of glutathione S-transferase T1 mismatch

Antibody-mediated rejection(AMR) in liver transplantation has long been underestimated. The concept of the liver as an organ susceptible to AMR has emerged in recent years, not only in the context of the major histocompatibility complex with the presence of HLA donor-specific antibodies, but also with antigens regarded as "minor", whose role in AMR has been demonstrated. Among them, antibodies against glutathione S-transferase T1 have been found in 100% of patients with de novo autoimmune hepatitis(dn AIH) when studied. In its latest update, the Banff Working Group for liver allograft pathology proposed replacing the term dn AIH with plasma cell(PC)-rich rejection. Antibodies to glutathione S-transferase T1(GSTT1) in null recipients of GSTT1 positive donors have been included as a contributory but nonessential feature of the diagnosis of PC-rich rejection. Also in this update, non-organ-specific anti-nuclear or smooth muscle autoantibodies are no longer included as diagnostic criteria. Although initially found in a proportion of patients with PC-rich rejection, the presence of autoantibodies is misleading since they are not diseasespecific and appear in many different contexts as bystanders. The cellular types and proportions of the inflammatory infiltrates in diagnostic biopsies have been studied in detail very recently. PC-rich rejection biopsies present a characteristic cellular profile with a predominance of T lymphocytes and a high proportion of PCs, close to 30%, of which 16.48% are Ig G4+. New data on the relevance of GSTT1-specific T lymphocytes to PC-rich rejection will be discussed in this review.

Evaluation of the updated definition of early allograft dysfunction in donation after brain death and donation after cardiac death liver allografts

BACKGROUND:An updated definition of early allograft dysfunction(EAD) was recently validated in a multicenter study of 300 deceased donor liver transplant recipients.This analysis did not differentiate between donation after brain death(DBD) and donation after cardiac death(DCD) allograft recipients.METHODS:We reviewed our prospectively entered database for all DBD(n=377) and DCD(n=38) liver transplantations between January 1,2006 and October 30,2011.The incidence of EAD as well as its ability to predict graft failure and survival was compared between DBD and DCD groups.RESULTS:EAD was a valid predictor of both graft and patient survival at six months in DBD allograft recipients,but in DCD allograft recipients there was no significant difference in the rate of graft failure in those with EAD(11.5%) compared with those without EAD(16.7%)(P=0.664) or in the rate of death in recipients with EAD(3.8%) compared with those without EAD(8.3%)(P=0.565).The graft failure rate in the first 6 months in those with international normalized ratio ≥1.6 on day 7 who received a DCD allograft was 37.5% compared with 6.7% for those with international normalized ratio <1.6 on day 7(P=0.022).CONCLUSIONS:The recently validated definition of EAD is a valid predictor of patient and graft survival in recipients of DBD allografts.On initial assessment,it does not appear to be a useful predictor of patient and graft survival in recipients of DCD allografts,however a study with a larger sample size of DCD allografts is needed to confirm these findings.The high ALT/AST levels in most recipients of DCD livers as well as the predisposition to biliary complications and early cholestasis make these parameters as poor predictors of graft failure.An alternative definition of EAD that gives greater weight to the INR on day 7 may be more relevant in this population.

Hepatic flow is an intraoperative predictor of early allograft dysfunction in whole-graft deceased donor liver transplantation: An observational cohort study

BACKGROUND Early allograft dysfunction(EAD)after liver transplantation(LT)is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.To ensure adequate graft function,a critical hepatocellular mass is required in addition to an appropriate blood supply.We hypothesized that intraoperative measurement of portal venous and hepatic arterial flow may serve as a predictor in the diagnosis of EAD.AIM To study whether hepatic flow is an independent predictor of EAD following LT.METHODS This is an observational cohort study in a single institution.Hepatic arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow were measured intraoperatively by transit flow.EAD was defined using the Olthoff criteria.Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the intraoperative predictors of EAD.Survival analysis and prognostic factor analysis were performed using the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models.RESULTS A total of 195 liver transplant procedures were performed between January 2008 and December 2014 in 188 patients.A total of 54(27.7%)patients developed EAD.The median follow-up was 39 mo.Portal venous flow,hepatic arterial flow(HAF)and total hepatic arterial flow were associated with EAD in both the univariate and multivariate analyses.HAF is an independent prognostic factor for 30-d patient mortality.CONCLUSION Intraoperative measurement of blood flow after reperfusion appears to be a predictor of EAD;Moreover,HAF should be considered a predictor of 30-d patient mortality.

Effect of Emodin in Suppressing Acute Rejection Following Liver Allograft Transplantation in Rats

Objective：To investigate the mechanism of action of emodin for suppressing acute allograft rejection in a rat model of liver transplantation.Methods：Brown Norway（BW） recipient rats of orthotopic liver transplantation（OLT） were divided into three groups,Group A receiving isografting（with BW rats as donor）, Group B receiving allografting（with Lewis rats as donor）,Group C receiving allografting and emodin treatment （50 mg/kg daily）.They were sacrificed on day 7 of post-transplantation,and their hepatic histology,plasma cytokine levels,and T-cell subset expression were detected.Results：Compared with those in Group A,rats in Group B exhibited severe allograft rejection with a rejection activity index（RAI） of 7.67±0.98,extensive hepatocellular apoptosis with an apoptosis index（Al） of 35.83±2.32,and elevated plasma levels of interleukin-2 （IL-2）,interleukin-10（IL-10）,tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）,CD4^＋ and CD4^＋/CD8^＋ ratio.However,recipients in Group C showed a decrease in histological grade of rejection and hepatocellular apoptosis,as well as a decrease in plasma levels of IL-2,TNF-α,CD4^＋ and CD4^＋/CD8^＋ ratio,but elevated levels of IL-10 as compared with the allograft group.Conclusion：Post-OLT acute rejection could be attenuated by emodin,its mechanism of action may be associated with protecting hepatocytes from apoptosis,polarizing the Th 1 paradigm to Th2,and inhibiting the proliferation of CD4^＋ T cell in plasma.

Immune protection of auxiliary liver to other allograft: report of 3 cases

OBJECTIVE: To assess the immune status of auxiliary liver transplantation and to clarify the immune protection of auxiliary liver to other allograft. METHODS: Immunological markers and pathological changes in 3 patients undergoing auxiliary liver transplantation were analysed. RESULTS: The lower the concentration of immunosuppressive agent, the less the rejection and the milder the intensity in the 3 patients. The function of allograft after auxiliary liver transplantation was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are in a low immune reaction state after auxiliary liver transplantation. Auxiliary liver can protect other allografts by related immunological mechanisms. The side-effects of low-concentration immunosuppressive agents on auxiliary liver and other allografts are mild.

Role of plasmapheresis in early allograft dysfunction following deceased donor liver transplantation

The role of plasmapheresis in liver failure and hepatic encephalopathy is undefined and its use as a strategy to salvage patients with severe allograft dysfunction after liver transplantation remains investigational. We present a case of early allograft dysfunction following deceased donor liver transplantation(DDLT) where plasmapheresis was effective as a bridge to recovery and possibly avoiding a retransplantation. A 16 years old boy, known to have decompensated Wilson's disease underwent DDLT at our Public Sector Hospital. He received a healthy liver from a brain-dead donor, whose liver was considered too large for the boy. The graft was reduced in situ to a left lobe graft. Surgery was uneventful and the recipient was well for the initial 96 h. On Doppler and further computed tomography scan, a partial portal vein thrombus was noted. He was reexplored and a Fogarty endothombecteomy was performed. Following the second surgery, he developed severe allograft dysfunction with a peak bilirubin of 40 mg/d L. He underwent imaging to rule out technical causes for the dysfunction, followed by a liver biopsy, which revealed acute cellular rejection. Multiple cycles of plasmapheresis were initiated. Over the next two weeks, the graft demonstrated a gradual recovery. He was discharged on the 30 th postoperative day, with a serum bilirubin of 5.5 mg/d L. He remains well on follow-up, with the liver function tests improving further. Our report demonstrates the beneficial effect of plasmapheresis, which appears to be an effective treatment option for early allograft dysfunction following liver transplantation and may obviate the need for retransplantation.

常规超声联合瞬时弹性成像预测肝移植患者早期同种异体移植物功能障碍的临床价值

目的 探讨常规超声联合瞬时弹性成像预测肝移植患者早期同种异体移植物功能障碍(EAD)的临床价值。方法 回顾性分析我院37例脑死亡器官捐献(DBD)供者肝脏(以下简称供肝)影像学资料,所有供肝移植前均行常规超声及瞬时弹性成像检查获取超声分级、受控衰减参数(CAP)、肝脏硬度值(LS),根据相应受者术后1周内是否发生EAD将其分为EAD组17例和非EAD组20例,比较两组供肝超声分级、CAP及LS的差异。绘制受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线分析供肝超声分级、CAP、LS单独及联合预测肝移植患者EAD的诊断效能。结果 EAD组供肝CAP、LS及超声分级均高于非EAD组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析显示,供肝CAP、LS、超声分级截断值分别为206 dB/m、5.5 kPa、3.5级时,预测肝移植患者EAD的曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.854、0.729、0.762,供肝超声分级联合CAP、LS预测肝移植患者EAD的AUC最高,为0.888,与供肝超声分级、LS的AUC比较差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05);其余两两比较差异均无统计学意义。结论 常规超声联合瞬时弹性成像在预测肝移植患者EAD中有一定的临床价值。

2023年中国肝移植基础研究年度盘点

肝移植是终末期肝病和肝细胞癌的最佳治疗手段,可显著改善患者预后,提高患者生存质量。但排斥反应、免疫耐受、供肝短缺、供肝保存、缺血-再灌注损伤、术后并发症等诸多重难点,限制了肝移植在临床中的应用效果。我国科研团队不断努力,结合新兴技术、多学科交叉等新兴领域的发展,对肝移植相关基础研究做出了巨大贡献。本文就2023年度肝移植基础研究相关的前沿进展进行综述,重点关注中国团队在肝移植基础研究领域取得的进展,以期为促进中国特色融入肝移植领域研究中,加快中国肝移植研究事业和国际接轨,推动我国肝移植事业的进一步发展提供参考。

肝移植术后早期移植器官功能不全的预测模型构建

目的分析肝移植术后早期移植物功能不全(early allograft dysfunction,EAD)的相关因素并构建预测模型。方法收集2008年12月至2021年12月于我院麻醉科手术室实施肝移植手术的375例患者,其中术后发生EAD的患者90例,未发生EAD的患者266例,比较2组患者30项基线资料。按照7∶3的比例进行分组后,在训练集中依次采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析评价EAD的相关因素并构建列线图,采用受试者工作特征曲线(receiver operating characteristic,ROC)、临床决策曲线分析(decision curve analysis,DCA)、灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、Kappa值等指标评估模型表现。结果肝移植术后EAD发生率为24%。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,术前肿瘤复发史(OR=3.15,95%CI:1.28~7.77,P=0.013)、手术时间(OR=1.22,95%CI:1.04~1.42,P=0.015)与术后发生EAD有关,根据约登指数鉴定的0.519为截点划分预测结局后,训练集和验证集中模型表现尚可,临床决策曲线提示模型有较好的临床适用性。结论术后EAD的危险因素为术前肿瘤复发史、手术时间,建立的模型能较好地预测患者的预后。

原位肝移植患者术后发生早期移植物功能不全的危险因素及其列线图模型构建

目的探讨原位肝移植(OLT)患者术后发生早期移植物功能不全(EAD)的危险因素并建立相关的列线图模型。方法选取行肝移植患者受体106例,根据术后是否发生EAD分为EAD组(n=42)和非EAD组(n=64),收集两组受体术前一般临床资料[年龄、性别、终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分、美国麻醉医师协会(ASA)分级、Child-Pugh评分、肝恶性肿瘤病史、白细胞(WBC)、中性粒细胞百分比、淋巴细胞百分比、中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值(NLR)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)及总胆红素(TBIL)]及供体术前一般临床资料[年龄、性别、体质量指数(BMI)、死亡原因、是否行心肺复苏术、是否使用体外膜肺氧合(ECMO)、供受体血型是否相合、是否合并病毒性肝炎、冷缺血时间(CIT)、热缺血时间(WIT)、供肝获取时间、重症监护室(ICU)住院时间、捐献前最近1次的白蛋白(ALB)、AST、ALT、钠离子浓度及凝血酶原时间(PT)],同时收集受体术中相关变量(有无脾切除、手术时长、术中失血量、血小板输注量、红细胞输注量、血浆输注量及无肝期时间),采用单因素和多因素logistic回归分析受体发生EAD的危险因素;通过计算机产生随机数方法将受体以3∶1分为训练集(n=79)及验证集(n=27),基于训练集数据建立相关列线图模型,并用验证集进行模型内部验证。结果EAD组受体的MELD评分、术中红细胞输注量及供体BMI、ALT、CIT水平高于非EAD组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);多因素logistic回归分析显示,受体MELD评分及供体BMI、ALT、CIT是术后EAD的独立危险因素(P<0.05);在预测OLT术后发生EAD风险的训练集(n=79)中,列线图受试者工作特征(ROC)的曲线下面积(AUC)=0.906、95%CI为0.849~0.963;验证集(n=27)对EAD预测有相似的预测价值(AUC=0.91,95%CI为0.847~0.974),校准曲线对EAD预测发生率和实际发生率具有较好的一致性,决策曲线分析(DCA)显示其具有良好的临床净获益。结论受体MELD评分偏高及供体BMI偏大、ALT水平升高、CIT较长与OLT患者术后EAD的发生相关,以此建立的列线图模型对EAD预测效果好。

Predictive factors of short term outcome after liver transplantation: A review

Liver transplantation represents a fundamental therapeutic solution to end-stage liver disease. The need for liver allografts has extended the set of criteria for organ acceptability, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes. Little is known about the early postoperative parameters that can be used as valid predictive indices for early graft function, retransplantation or surgical reintervention, secondary complications, long intensive care unit stay or death. In this review, we present state-of-the-art knowledge regarding the early post-transplantation tests and scores that can be applied during the first postoperative week to predict liver allograft function and patient outcome, thereby guiding the therapeutic and surgical decisions of the medical staff. Post-transplant clinical and biochemical assessment of patients through laboratory tests (platelet count, transaminase and bilirubin levels, INR, factor V, lactates, and Insulin Growth Factor 1) and scores (model for end-stage liver disease, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation, sequential organ failure assessment and model of early allograft function) have been reported to have good performance, but they only allow late evaluation of patient status and graft function, requiring days to be quantified. The indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate has long been used as a liver function assessment technique and has produced interesting, although not univocal, results when performed between the 1th and the 5th day after transplantation. The liver maximal function capacity test is a promising method of metabolic liver activity assessment, but its use is limited by economic cost and extrahepatic factors. To date, a consensual definition of early allograft dysfunction and the integration and validation of the above-mentioned techniques, through the development of numerically consistent multicentric prospective randomised trials, are necessary. The medical and surgical management of transplanted patients could be greatly improved by using clinically reliable tools to predict early graft function.

Grade of donor liver microvesicular steatosis does not affect the postoperative outcome after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND:The potential effect of graft steatosis on the postoperative liver function is discussed controversially. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the donor liver microvesicular steatosis on the postoperative outcome after liver transplantation.METHODS:Ninety-four patients undergoing liver transplantation at the University Hospital Aachen were included in this study. The patient cohort was divided into three groups according to the grade of microvesicular steatosis(MiS):MiS <30%(n=27), MiS 30%-60%(n=41) and MiS >60%(n=26).The outcomes after liver transplantation were evaluated, including the 30-day and 1-year patient and graft survival rates and the incidences of early allograft dysfunction(EAD) and primary nonfunction(PNF). RESULTS:The incidences of EAD and PNF did not differ significantly between the groups. We observed 5 cases of PNF,one occurred in the MiS <30% group and 4 in the MiS 30%-60% group. The 30-day and 1-year graft survivals did not differ significantly between groups. The 30-day patient survival rates were 100% in all groups. The 1-year patient survival rates were 94.4% in the MiS <30% group, 87.9% in the MiS 30%-60% group and 90.9% in the MiS >60% group.CONCLUSION:Microvesicular steatosis of donor livers has no negative effect on the postoperative outcome after liver transplantation.

Minimizing tacrolimus decreases the risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation

AbstractAIM： To investigate the impact of minimum tacrolimus（TAC） on new-onset diabetes mellitus （NODM） afterliver transplantation （LT）.METHODS： We retrospectively analyzed the data of973 liver transplant recipients between March 1999and September 2014 in West China Hospital LiverTransplantation Center. Following the exclusion ofineligible recipients, 528 recipients with a TAC-dominantregimen were included in our study. We calculatedand determined the mean trough concentration ofTAC （cTAC） in the year of diabetes diagnosis in NODMrecipients or in the last year of the follow-up in non-NODM recipients. A cutoff of mean cTAC value forpredicting NODM 6 mo after LT was identified usinga receptor operating characteristic curve. TAC-relatedcomplications after LT was evaluated by χ^2 test, andthe overall and allograft survival was evaluated usingthe Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors for NODM afterLT were examined by univariate and multivariate Cox regression.RESULTS： Of the 528 transplant recipients, 131（24.8%） developed NODM after 6 mo after LT, andthe cumulative incidence of NODM progressivelyincreased. The mean cTAC of NODM group recipientswas significantly higher than that of recipients in thenon-NODM group （7.66 ± 3.41 ng/mL vs 4.47 ± 2.22ng/mL, P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, NODM group recipientshad lower 1-, 5-, 10-year overall survival rates （86.7%,71.3%, and 61.1% vs 94.7%, 86.1%, and 83.7%, P 〈0.05） and allograft survival rates （92.8%, 84.6%, and75.7% vs 96.1%, 91%, and 86.1%, P 〈 0.05） thanthe others. The best cutoff of mean cTAC for predictingNODM was 5.89 ng/mL after 6 mo after LT. Multivariateanalysis showed that old age at the time of LT （〉 50years）, hypertension pre-LT, and high mean cTAC （≥5.89 ng/mL） after 6 mo after LT were independent riskfactors for developing NODM. Concurrently, recipientswith a low cTAC （〈 5.89 ng/mL） were less likely tobecome obese （21.3% vs 30.2%, P 〈 0.05） or todevelop dyslipidemia （27.5% vs 44.8%, P 〈0.05）,chronic kidney dysfunction （14.6% vs 22.7%, P 〈 0.05）,and moderate to severe infection （24.7% vs 33.1%, P〈 0.05） after LT than recipients in the high mean cTACgroup. However, the two groups showed no significantdifference in the incidence of acute and chronicrejection, hypertension, cardiovascular events and newonsetmalignancy.CONCLUSION： A minimal TAC regimen can decreasethe risk of long-term NODM after LT. Maintaining a cTACvalue below 5.89 ng/mL after LT is safe and beneficial.

Reconstruction of the middle hepatic vein tributary in adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: In adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), the use of a right lobe graft without the middle hepatic vein (MHV) can cause hepatic congestion and disturbance of venous drainage. To solve this problem, we successfully used cadaveric venous allografts preserved in 4 ℃ University of Wisconsin (UW) solution within 10 days as interposition veins for drainage of the paramedian portion of the right lobe in adult LDLT. METHODS: From June 2007 to January 2008, 11 adult LDLT patients received modified right liver grafts. The major MHV tributaries (greater than 5 mm in diameter) of 9 cases were preserved and reconstructed using cadaveric interposition vein allografts that had been stored for 1 to 10 days in 4 ℃ UW solution. The regeneration of the paramedian sector of the grafts and the patency of the interposition vein allografts were examined by Doppler ultrasonography after the operation. RESULTS: MHV tributaries were reconstructed in 9 recipients. Only 1 recipient died of renal failure and severe pulmonary infection on day 9 after transplantation without any hemiliver venous outflow obstruction. The other 8 recipients achieved long-term survival with a median follow-up of 30 months. The cumulative patency rates of the 8 recipients were 63.63% (7/11), 45.45% (5/11), 45.45% (5/11) and 36.36% (4/11) at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months, respectively. Regeneration of the paramedian sectors was equivalent.CONCLUSION: The cadaveric venous allograft preserved in 4 ℃ UW solution within 10 days serves as a useful alternative for interposition veins in facilitating implantation of a right lobe graft and guarantees outflow of the MHV.

A Simple and New Device to Avoid Hepatic Venous Outflow Obstruction in Adult Liver Transplantation

Hepatic venous drainage in liver transplantation may be reduced to the level of caval anastomosis producing an obstruction degree and leading to serious vascular complication such as the acute Budd-Chiari syndrome, which may result in organ loss. Outflow obstruction may be caused by lack of technique in caval anastomosis or by allograft malposition as a consequence of anatomical graft and recipient conditions. Fixation of the round ligament, placement of bowel loops and use of tissue expanders have been described to stabilize graft position during liver transplantation with related procedure complications. We report our experience of a simple homemade device using a surgical glove expander that allowed us to successfully avoid outflow obstruction in all of nine treated patients. No device related complications occurred. In malposed liver allografts, we strongly suggest the use of this simple and safe device to avoid hepatic venous outflow obstruction on condition that the device is early removed within 48 hours.

SYBR荧光实时定量PCR检测肝移植受者CD95和CD95L mRNA表达

目的检测肝移植受者外周血淋巴细胞CD95和CD95L mRNA的表达,并探讨其在移植肝急性排斥反应中的意义。方法采用SYBR荧光实时定量PCR法检测56例肝移植受者外周血淋巴细胞CD95和CD95L mRNA的表达。结果 CD95和CD95L mRNA在移植肝急性排斥患者外周血中的表达均显著升高(P<0．01),时间上平均早于血肝功能酶谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶升高2 d。结论 CD95和CD95L与移植肝急性排斥反应密切相关,CD95和CD95L mRNA可作为移植肝急性排斥反应发生的预测和诊断指标之一。

肝移植术后肝动脉狭窄的诊断和治疗

目的：总结肝移植术后肝动脉狭窄的诊治经验。方法：回顾性总结１０６例１０７次肝移植病人的３例肝动脉狭窄的临床资料，结合文献分析了肝动脉狭窄的高危因素及其对肝移植的影响。结果：本组肝动脉狭窄的发生率为２．８％。３例均经彩超检查诊断和肝动脉造影确诊。例１狭窄位于受体肝总动脉起始处，放置血管内支架后血流恢复正常，但术后第１８天死于肝功能衰竭；例２狭窄位于吻合口，不能通过导丝而未行介入治疗，但病人无症状，肝功能良好；例３狭窄位于吻合口近端，经肝动脉重建后血流恢复正常。结论：肝动脉狭窄的早期诊断和及时治疗非常关键，其对移植肝的影响取决于当时的肝功能状态。纠正肝动脉狭窄有助于预防胆道并发症和提高移植物的存活率。