SERUM HYALURONIC-ACID FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF GRAFT VIABILITY IN PORCINE LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

For the assessment of graft viability, serum hyaluronic acid (HA) leve ls during porcine orthotopic liver transplantation were measured in tw o groups: group 1 (viable: n = 5) in which allografts were transplante d following a minimal cold (4-degrees-C) preservation, and group 2 (no nviable: n = 4) in which allografts were transplanted after cold stati c storage (4-degrees-C) for 24 h in University of Wisconsin solution. The changes in the HA levels reached a significant difference between the two groups at 30 min after reperfusion (P < 0.02). In group 1, all animals survived for over 4 days, while all animals in group 2 died w ithin 24 h. The serum HA also demonstrated a significant correlation w ith prothrombin time, beta-glucuronidase, and aspartate aminotransfera se at 120 min after reperfusion. These results suggest that the measur ement of serum HA is a potentially effective index for evaluating hepa tic allograft viability.