THE UNRELIABILITY OF THE LIDOCAINE MONOETHYLGLYCINEXYLIDIDE TEST FOR ASSESSMENT OF LIVER-DONORS

The serum monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) level 15 min (t15) after i.v . administration of lidocaine (1 mg/kg) in liver donors was retrospect ively correlated with graft outcome and early hepatic function. Among the 35 orthotopic liver transplants studied, 4 recipients had to be re transplanted within 10 days post-OLT because of early graft nonfunctio n or dysfunction, and 3 recipients died, with a median (range) donor M EGX t15 (ng/ml) of 100 (86-119) and 169 (146-182), respectively. The r emaining 28 OLT patients living with functioning grafts had a donor ME GX of 87 (18-245). No significant correlations could be found between donor MEGX t15 and recipient mean and peak glutamic-oxaloacetic and -p yruvic transaminases, total serum bilirubin, or mean and minimum proth rombin time values studied from day 1 to day 5 post-OLT. Moreover, cat egorization of donors using the MEGX t15 cut-off point of 80 ng/ml cou ld not predict liver graft quality, as previously suggested. In summar y, MEGX t15 in liver donors correlated neither with graft outcome nor with early functional parameters. Accordingly, the MEGX test should no t be used as an isolated discriminatory evaluation for organ utilizati on.