title: Bile acids analysis: a tool to assess graft function in human liver transplantation.
abstract: The expanding use of "sub-optimal" grafts due to donor organ shortage increases the importance of accurate graft assessment before liver transplantation. Bile secretion is an early sign of recovering hepatic function post-transplant. The role of bile acid analysis in assessing graft function before and immediately after liver transplantation has been investigated. Two hundred and sixteen samples of hepatic bile were collected from 35 donors and 13 recipients. Clinical data, bile flow, total bile acid concentration, apparent choleretic activity and bile acid composition were assessed. Sub-optimal donor livers showed a low apparent choleretic activity and a different bile acid composition when compared to normal grafts. In recipients, the pattern of recovery of bile secretion immediately after reperfusion was a useful predictor of graft function. This study characterises bile acid secretion of liver grafts and remarks the potential value of bile acid analysis to assess donor liver quality and early post-transplant graft function.
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplant Surgical Service, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS, London, UK.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vilca Melendez
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rela
authors.forename: Kenneth D R
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Setchell
authors.forename: Gerard M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Nigel D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Heaton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D001647:Bile Acids and Salts