The role of allopurinol in human liver ischemia/reperfusion injury: a prospective randomized clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of pretreatment with allopurinol on oxidative stress during reperfusion and the role in liver tissue protection in partial liver resections for colorectal cancer metastases confined to the liver.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, clinical trial, single center, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Curative partial liver resection of colorectal metastases in 16 patients with or without allopurinol pretreatment, between June 1992 and February 1994.


METHODS
Partial liver resections with Pringle maneuver, intravenous allopurinol versus no allopurinol.


METHODS
The effect of allopurinol on liver cell damage caused by ischemia/reperfusion studied by measuring malondialdehyde, glutathione, glutathione disulfide, vitamin C, liver enzymes and blood clotting factors in blood samples. Morbidity and mortality were also evaluated.


RESULTS
Pretreatment with allopurinol had no significant effect on any of our study parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Because ischemia/reperfusion damage is little in our study, pretreatment with allopurinol is of no value.
Vriens
Menno R
MR
Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Marinelli
Andreas
A
Harinck
Hubertus I J
HI
Zwinderman
Koos H
KH
van de Velde
Cornelis J H
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011292:Premedication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000493:Allopurinol