A Direct Comparison Between Institut Georges Lopez 1 and Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate Preservation Solutions in Liver Transplantation.

Background: The Institut Georges Lopez 1 (IGL-1) solution was developed to improve the outcomes of solid organ transplantation. Nevertheless, follow-up of liver transplants using IGL-1-preserved organs is still scarce.

Aim: To compare morbidity, postoperative complications, and early survival between liver grafts perfused with IGL-1 and those perfused with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solutions.

Methods: Prospective liver grafts perfused with IGL-1 (n = 65) were paired with a historical control group of recipients whose grafts were preserved with HTK solution (n = 130). The primary endpoint was the sum of the incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and primary graft nonfunction (PGNF). Secondary endpoints included resource utilization, complications, and survival analysis.

Results: In the HTK group, 52 patients (40%) exhibited either PGD or PGNF, compared to 20 patients (31%) in the IGL-1 group (P = .208). Patients from the HTK group had higher mean values for cryoprecipitate transfusion (P = .0064), first day serum lactate (P = .0099), higher incidence of vascular complications (11% vs 2% in the IGL-1 group; P = .0226), but a lower incidence of infection (7% vs 28% in the IGL-1 group; P < .0001). The IGL-1 group presented a lower mean aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) on the first and second postoperative day and a lower ALT on the seventh day. Recipients of grafts perfused with IGL-1 had a better early survival than those whose grafts were perfused with HTK.

Conclusions: Both solutions are safe and present good results. Grafts perfused with IGL-1 showed decreased enzymatic peaks and better short-term survival rates than the HTK group. The use of the IGL-1 solution might be preferable.