OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN HUMAN LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

The aim of this study was to evaluate oxygen-dependent hepatic reperfu sion injury in humans following orthotopic liver transplantation. To t his end, a number of blood indices of impaired tissue redox balance we re monitored in 19 adult patients for 3 weeks after liver transplantat ion. Both red cell malonaldehyde and plasma lipid peroxides increased significantly soon after organ reperfusion. This finding was consisten tly accompanied by decreased plasma vitamin E and red cell total gluta thione. A peak of oxidative stress, as measured by the parameters moni tored, was evident within 24 h after reperfusion, together with a maxi mum expression of cytolysis, as measured by plasma alanine aminotransf erase. The occurrence of redox imbalance after hepatic reperfusion was shown to be linearly related to irreversible cell damage. As regards the low plasma levels of the two antioxidants after reperfusion, only that of vitamin E appeared statistically related to oxidative stress. With the background of an increasing body of proof, mainly from animal models, the involvement of toxic oxygen metabolites in hepatic cytoly sis following orthotopic liver transplantation appears likely. The sta tistical correlation among the markers of redox imbalance monitored in dicates their combined use in further investigation.