USE OF MONOETHYLGLYCINEXYLIDIDE AS A LIVER-FUNCTION TEST IN THE LIVER-TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT

The hepatic conversion of lignocaine to monoethylgly-cinexylidide (MEG X) has been used as a real time monitor of liver function in liver tra nsplant recipients. Data are reported for the first 4 weeks after tran splant in 50 consecutive orthotopic liver grafts in 47 adults. The MEG X concentration was significantly depressed by approximately 50% in th ose patients in whom there was a complicated clinical course (excludin g steroid-sensitive rejection) after transplantation, compared with pa tients in whom major complications did not occur. The MEGX concentrati on in the recipients after transplant was independent of the donor MEG X concentration, but, in addition to the patient's clinical status, wa s strongly influenced by the recipients pretransplant biochemical prof ile, being inversely related to the pretransplant bilirubin concentrat ion. MEGX concentrations < 25 mu g/L in the first 36 hr after revascul arization were predictive of greater morbidity and mortality.