Reversal of Graft Steatosis After Liver Transplantation: Prospective Study
Abstract
Objective
To determine the risk factors for reversal of liver graft steatosis.
Patients and Methods
This prospective study included 70 patients (47 men and 23 women) who received steatotic liver grafts between July 2003 and February 2008. No grafts from prisoners were used in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to degree of liver steatosis, as follows: mild (n = 29, group 1), moderate (n = 23, group 2), and severe (n = 18, group 3).
Results
The median (SD) degree of steatosis in liver grafts at transplantation was 15.7% (7.3%) in group 1, 26.3% (10.5%) in group 2, and 45.1% (8.3%) in group 3. Postoperative histologic analysis demonstrated dramatically decreased steatosis in all graft recipients.
Conclusion
Graft steatosis can be decreased substantially after liver transplantation. Factors for reversibility of steatosis include donor age, degree of macrovesicular steatosis, and cold ischemia time.
aDepartment of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
bDepartment of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
cDivision of Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Address reprint requests to Lu-Nan Yan, MD, PhD, Division of Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
ABSTRACT