Fibrinolytic abnormalities following liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the fibrinolytic system after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

DESIGN

Seven patients were studied prior to, and for 4 days after, liver transplantation.

METHODS

Both activators and inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system were investigated in seven patients with fulminant hepatic failure who underwent liver transplantation.

RESULTS

alpha 2-antiplasmin and C1-inhibitor levels increased rapidly after transplantation (81 and 53% of normal on day 1; 106 and 99% on day 2, respectively). Plasminogen levels remained low throughout the 4-day study period. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was higher than normal before transplantation (21.0 compared with 7.4 U/ml) and increased further on the first day after operation (37.5 U/ml; P < 0.05 versus pre-transplantation). Tissue plasminogen activator levels remained normal (pre-operative, 7.0 IU/ml; Day 4, 0.2 IU/ml). D-dimer remained elevated during the postoperative period showing increased fibrinolytic activity. Thrombin-antithrombin III complex was also elevated during the study period. Antithrombin III was greatly reduced prior to transplantation (13.7% of normal) and plasma levels were less than 50% of normal values during the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of fibrinolytic activity are raised after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure. This is probably due to increased fibrin formation caused by a coexisting hypercoagulable state.