The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Tacrolimus added to histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution given through intraportal and intraarterial infusion during back-table procedure is capable of reducing the degree of early allograft liver dysfunction, as assessed by postoperative levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), during first 7 postoperative days and by serum and histochemical markers of liver injury and inflammation.
Early allograft liver dysfunction remains a significant complication of cadaveric liver transplantation with resource consuming and costly treatment, increased risk of multiorgan failure and 6-months mortality. Ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) is a main reason for early allograft liver dysfunction. Inflammatory response to brain death in donor can precipitate the extent of dysfunction after reperfusion in recipient (1). Clear inflammatory pathways in response to IRI have been reported to be associated with early allograft liver dysfunction (2,3). It was shown that ex vivo intraportal tacrolimus perfusion suppressed inflammation and immune response in the transplanted liver on a genome-wide basis (4). We hypothesize that Tacrolimus added to HTK solution given through intraportal and intraarterial back-table infusion is capable of reducing the degree of early allograft liver dysfunction, as assessed by incidence of postreperfusion hyperfibrinolysis, postoperative levels of AST,ALT, during 1-7 postoperative days as well as serum and histochemical markers of liver injury and inflammation compared to no intraportal and intraarterial back-table infusion.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
86
1000 ml of HTK solution (Custodiol, Dr. Franz Köhler Chemie GmBH) cooled to 2-4˚C containing 20 ng/ml Tacrolimus would be given through intraportal (under gravity pressure of 40 cm H2O) and intraarterial infusion (under pressure of 40-50 mm Hg) followed by intraportal infusion of 200 ml 5% solution of Albumin containing 20 ng/ml Tacrolimus under gravity pressure of 40 cm H2O.
RSPC for organ and tissue transplantation, Minsk 9th clinic
Minsk, Belarus
Early Allograft Dysfunction
Protocol is restricted to liver transplants performed with classic technique with sequential portal-arterial reperfusion. Early allograft dysfunction will be assessed on the basis of highest levels of AST and ALT during 1-7 postoperative days.
Time frame: 1-7 postoperative days after liver transplant procedure
Ischemic Reperfusion Injury of the Liver Allograft
Protocol is restricted to liver transplants performed with classic technique with sequential portal-arterial reperfusion. A wedge resection of small (5x5mm) part of liver segment-III will be sampled at 2 hours after venous reperfusion. Rate of necrosis, inflammation, vascular thrombosis, cluster of differentiation (CD) 68 and High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) staining will be assessed thereafter.
Time frame: liver biopsy taken at 2 hours after portal reperfusion
Inflammatory Response to Reperfusion
Protocol is restricted to liver transplants performed with classic technique with sequential portal-arterial reperfusion. After unclamping portal vein but before unclamping the inferior vena cava and after venting of first 100 ml of blood a 5 ml sample of blood (code is "HV") from a tube inserted into caval suture line will be taken. Another 5 ml sample of blood (code is "C") will be taken by puncture of one of hepatic veins 20 min later. Samples (5 ml each) of peripheral blood will be taken on 1st and 3d postoperative day (POD). P-selectin, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-a) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1a) will be determined in samples "HV" and "C". Interleukin-8, elastase, TNF-a and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) will be determined in samples of 1st and 3d POD.
Time frame: 0 and 20 min after portal reperfusion, 1 and 3 postoperative day
Postreperfusion Hyperfibrinolysis
Protocol is restricted to liver transplants performed with classic technique with sequential portal-arterial reperfusion. Peripheral blood samples will be taken 15 min and 2 hours after portal reperfusion. Hyperfibrinolysis will be diagnosed by Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) if one or more following criteria are met: LI30\<85% or ML\>15% or LI60\<85% or A10 in Extem is by 15% is less then A10 in Aptem.
Time frame: 15 min and 2 hours after portal reperfusion
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