CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF SERUM HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR IN ORTHOTOPICLIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Background. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plays a hey role in the reg ulation of liver regeneration after hepatocyte damage. Changes in HGF production reflect the status of the regeneration process. Methods. Se rum concentrations of HGF and energy substrates were measured during a nd after fiver transplantation in 30 recipients. Results. In the patie nts with compromised grafts (group A) HGF concentrations were persiste ntly high after reperfusion, whereas in the patients with well-functio ning grafts (group B), HGF concentrations decreased rapidly and remain ed low 4 hours after reperfusion. The patients in group A who died had persistently high concentrations of HGF. The surviving patients with reversible primary graft dysfunction in group A exhibited low concentr ations 48 hours after reperfusion. The decrease in HGF concentration p receded the decrease in aspartate aminotransferase concentration. The metabolic parameters that reflect carbohydrate metabolism by the graft paralleled the changes in HGF. Conclusions. HGF may be more sensitive and specific in predicting early graft function than prothrombin time ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, or arterial ketone body ratio. The determination of HGF levels after liver transplantation may yield val uable information for evaluating early graft function and making an ea rly decision to repeat a graft procedure in an acutely ill patient.