Factors predicting perioperative cytokine response in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVES

An exaggerated production of proinflammatory cytokines during liver transplantation stimulates the inflammatory process within the graft, and eventually promotes liver failure. This study was conducted to evaluate factors predicting perioperative response of proinflammatory cytokines during liver transplantation.

DESIGN

Prospective, consecutive entry study of liver transplant candidates.

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

Thirty liver transplant recipients.

INTERVENTIONS

Arterial blood samples were obtained perioperatively.

MEASUREMENTS

Interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha were measured by ELISA. Endotoxin was determined by a chromogenic endotoxin-specific method.

MAIN RESULTS

The peak concentrations of IL-1beta and IL-6 in the patients with complications were significantly higher than those in the patients without complications. The peak concentration of IL-1beta was significantly correlated with the level of bilirubin at admission and the intraoperative blood product requirement. The peak concentration of IL-6 was significantly correlated with the admission bilirubin and the intraoperative blood product requirement. A multivariate regression model revealed that the serum bilirubin and the intraoperative blood product requirement were the independent factors that influenced the peak concentration of IL-1beta or IL-6. The severely jaundiced patients had a significantly higher plasma concentration of endotoxin at the end of the anhepatic phase. In addition, there was a tendency for these patients to have a higher postoperative peak concentration of endotoxin.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum level of bilirubin may be a potent preoperative factor influencing perioperative cytokine response in patients undergoing liver transplantation. An enhanced perioperative response of endotoxin seen in severely jaundiced patients suggests the clinical implication of endotoxin removal during the anhepatic phase in liver transplant surgery.