Fibrinolytic abnormalities following liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the fibrinolytic system after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.


METHODS
Seven patients were studied prior to, and for 4 days after, liver transplantation.


METHODS
Both activators and inhibitors of the fibrinolytic system were investigated in seven patients with fulminant hepatic failure who underwent liver transplantation.


RESULTS
alpha 2-antiplasmin and C1-inhibitor levels increased rapidly after transplantation (81 and 53% of normal on day 1; 106 and 99% on day 2, respectively). Plasminogen levels remained low throughout the 4-day study period. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 was higher than normal before transplantation (21.0 compared with 7.4 U/ml) and increased further on the first day after operation (37.5 U/ml; P < 0.05 versus pre-transplantation). Tissue plasminogen activator levels remained normal (pre-operative, 7.0 IU/ml; Day 4, 0.2 IU/ml). D-dimer remained elevated during the postoperative period showing increased fibrinolytic activity. Thrombin-antithrombin III complex was also elevated during the study period. Antithrombin III was greatly reduced prior to transplantation (13.7% of normal) and plasma levels were less than 50% of normal values during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Measures of fibrinolytic activity are raised after liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure. This is probably due to increased fibrin formation caused by a coexisting hypercoagulable state.
Pernambuco
J R
JR
Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
Langley
P G
PG
Hughes
R D
RD
Izumi
S
S
Williams
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000032:analysis; D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000032:analysis; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000097:blood; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin / Q000032:analysis
D003174:Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D000979:alpha-2-Antiplasmin; C046193:antithrombin III-protease complex; D000990:Antithrombin III; D010958:Plasminogen; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator