title: Donor haptoglobin phenotype determines outcome following liver transplantation.
abstract: Haptoglobin (Hp) is a polymorphic plasma protein with multiple functions defined by three major phenotypes (Hp 1-1, Hp 2-1, and Hp 2-2). In this article, the effects of the donor Hp phenotype (determined by starch gel electrophoresis) on the outcome and the iron status after liver transplantation were investigated. A total of 450 liver transplant patients were enrolled in this study with a median follow-up of 37 months. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression survival analyses showed a significantly worse graft survival for liver transplantation cases with an Hp 2-2 donor phenotype, which was associated with an increased mortality rate in this group. In male patients, the Hp 2-2 phenotype was associated with higher serum ferritin concentrations, which may be linked to the significantly increased likelihood of infectious complications in this phenotype. Liver transplant patients with Hp 1-1 and Hp 2-1 grafts had a better outcome probability than recipients of an Hp 2-2 graft, which may be explained by differences in iron metabolism induced by the Hp genotype of the graft.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 85, Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Reinhart
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.forename: Marijn M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
authors.forename: Marc L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: De Buyzere
authors.forename: Lutgarde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claeys
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Hemptinne
authors.forename: Joris R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000235:genetics*; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014019:Tissue Donors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: C485359:HP protein, human; D006242:Haptoglobins; D005293:Ferritins