The value of serial determination of MEGX and hyaluronic acid early after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Post-transplant assessment of early graft function has become an essential part of monitoring, especially when deciding on retransplantation. If primary non-function is indicated, retransplantation is inevitable; early graft dysfunction may be related to subsequent complications. In a prospective study in 84 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) we measured aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), bilirubin (BIL), prothrombin time, MEGX formation, hyaluronic acid (HA) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) concentrations during the first 2 postoperative weeks; graft outcome was followed over 4 months.

Relationship of apolipoproteins AI, B and lipoprotein Lp(a) to hepatic function of liver recipients during the early post-transplant period.

To evaluate serum apo AI, apo B, Lp(a) and the ratio of unesterified cholesterol to total cholesterol as markers of hepatic synthetic capacity after orthotopic liver transplantation, serial measurements of these variables were performed on post-transplant days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 in 70 patients. Liver function was assessed by a quantitative dynamic test based on the hepatic conversion of lidocaine to monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX). Patients were divided into two groups on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings, those with evidence (n = 46) and those without evidence (n = 24) of hepatic dysfunction.