title: Prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of primary non-function of the donor organ in liver transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a case in which acute failure of a liver graft was treated with an infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1).
  
  
  METHODS
  A nine-year-old girl underwent liver transplantation for Wilson's disease. Her course was complicated by primary non-function of the graft as evidenced by poor bile production, rising bilirubin and liver enzyme levels and a severe coagulopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PGE1 was infused and there was recovery of graft function. The need for urgent re-transplantation was avoided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGE1 may have an important role in liver transplantation considering the logistic difficulties of obtaining donor livers for urgent transplantation in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, VIC.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Mollison
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Angus
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006789:Host vs Graft Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation
chemical_list: D000527:Alprostadil