title: Conventional and quantitative liver function tests after hepatic transplantation: a prospective long-term follow-up.
abstract: In long-term survivors of liver transplantation, hepatic function is obviously of vital importance. Therefore, we prospectively performed conventional and quantitative liver function tests in patients who had survived a first transplantation for at least 4 years. Compared to 6 months after transplantation, serum bilirubin concentration and gamma GT activity were significantly lower after 3, 4, and 5 years (bilirubin 1.2 +/- 0.2 mg/dl at 6 months vs 1.0 +/- 0.1, 1.0 +/- 0.2, and 0.8 +/- 0.1 mg/dl respectively; gamma GT 106 +/- 0 33 U/l at 6 months vs 56 +/- 17, 67 +/- 35, 39 +/- 10 U/l respectively). At these points in time, blood levels of cyclosporin A were also significantly lower. Other parameters of liver cell function and liver cell integrity (AP, AST, ALT, GLDH, total protein, thromboplastin time, partial thromboplastin time) were unchanged over time. Serial quantitative liver function tests (indocyanine green half-life, galactose elimination capacity, lidocaine half-life, and MEGX formation) also remained stable. Thus, we conclude that hepatic function remains stable in long-term survivors of liver transplantation for at least several years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Clinic Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: von Schönfeld
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Erhard
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beste
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahl
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Zotz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Breuer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goebell
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Eigler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008012:Lidocaine; C001173:monoethylglycinexylidide; D001663:Bilirubin