[Changes in plasma S-100 beta and neuron-specific enolase in peri-operative period of orthotopic liver transplantation and its relationship with encephalopathy after operation].

Objective: To observe the changes in plasma S-100 beta and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and to study their relationship with encephalopathy after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: Thirty patients without neurological disease undergoing OLT were studied. Plasma S-100 beta and NSE were examined at three time points: after induction of anesthesia (T1), at the end of operation (T2) and 24 hours after reperfusion of the transplant (T3). The difference of plasma S-100 beta and NSE between encephalopathy group and non-encephalopathy group was analyzed.

Results: Eleven patients were complicated with encephalopathy after OLT. In 30 patients, S-100 beta at T2 [(3.715+/-1.523) microg/L] was higher than that at T1 [(1.478+/-0.809) microg/L, P<0.01]; S-100 beta at T3 [(1.765+/-0.894) microg/L] decreased to normal level (T1). NSE at T2 [(26.684+/-7.973) microg/L] was higher than that at T1 [(14.012+/-4.612) microg/L, P<0.01]. At T3, the level of plasma NSE [(18.105+/-7.345) microg/L] was decreased, but higher than that at T1. Plasma S-100 beta and NSE in encephalopathy group (11 cases) and non-encephalopathy group (19 cases) showed the same tendency of change as all of the patients. Plasma S-100 beta at T3 in encephalopathy group [(2.007+/-0.854)microg/L] was higher than that in non-encephalopathy group [(1.468+/-0.903) microg/L, P<0.05], and it was correlated with the presence of encephalopathy (r=0.385, P=0.039), but not at T1 and T2. Plasma NSE at three time points showed no relationship to the presence of encephalopathy.

Conclusion: The increase in plasma S-100 beta and NSE during OLT indicates the occurrence of damage to the brain. But plasma S-100 beta and NSE cannot predict encephalopathy after OLT.