Recurrent hepatitis C after living donor liver transplantation detected by Tc-99m GSA liver scintigraphy.
Recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) after living donor liver transplantation was investigated using technetium-99m- diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin (Tc-99m-GSA) liver scintigraphy. Four patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to HCV infection were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Scintigraphy was performed to determine the hepatic uptake ratio of the tracer corrected for disappearance from the blood, as well as the maximal removal rate of the tracer by hepatocytes, as parameters of hepatic functional reserve. In all patients, serum HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected 3 months after transplantation. The corrected hepatic uptake ratio and removal rate showed little change after transplantation in two patients without the recurrence of HCV infection. In another two patients, these levels were decreased at 3 months after transplantation. In one patient, recurrent HCV infection was diagnosed by confirmatory histologic examination at 12 months after transplantation. In the other patient, both levels declined further at 8 months. Although treatment was initiated with a combination of interferon plus ribavirin, this patient died of progressive hepatic failure. In conclusion, a decrease in scintigraphic parameters at 3 months after transplantation suggests recurrent HCV infection affecting the graft. Tc-99m-GSA liver scintigraphy is a useful noninvasive method for evaluating graft functional reserve.
Kaibori
Masaki
M
Department of Surgery, Kansai Medical University, 10-15 Fumizonocho, Moriguchi, Osaka, 570-8507, Japan. kaibori@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Ha-Kawa
Sang Kil
SK
Uchida
Yoichiro
Y
Ishizaki
Morihiko
M
Hijikawa
Takeshi
T
Saito
Takamichi
T
Imamura
Atsushi
A
Hirohara
Junko
J
Uemura
Yoshiko
Y
Tanaka
Koichi
K
Kamiyama
Yasuo
Y
D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D012367:RNA, Viral; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C070561:technetium Tc 99m DTPA-galactosyl-human serum albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate