title: Clinical significance of arginase after liver transplantation.
abstract: Liver graft function after transplantation is dependent on ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxicity of drugs (immunosuppression, antibiotics and other) and transplant rejection. Although routinely monitored with enzymatic tests (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP), bilirubin and coagulation parameters, differentiation between these pathologies is hardly possible without liver biopsy. Arginase (3.5.3.1) mostly exists in the liver and in trace amounts in extra-hepatic tissue. Thus, we hypothesized that activity of arginase could be a more specific test of liver function. Sera of 32 liver transplant recipients were tested for AST, ALT, ATIII, bilirubin and arginase. Samples were obtained daily in first 2 weeks after LTx and weekly afterwards. Correlation of arginase activity with other liver function markers was calculated. Serum arginase peaked at day 1 post LTx (mean 64,6+/-91 IU/L), and decreased more rapidly than other tests if good liver function was observed. The values showed strong and significant correlation with AST and ALT activities (Pearsons R 0,65 and 0,47 respectively). We conclude that activity of arginase in the serum is an exact test of liver function.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Transplantation Surgery, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. fashamiss@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Fathi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashamiss
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wierzbicki
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrzanowska
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scibior
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pacholczyk
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosieradzki
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lagiewska
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Porembska
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rowiński
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001119:Arginase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001119:Arginase