title: Steatosis among living liver donors without evidence of fatty liver on ultrasonography: potential implications for preoperative liver biopsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The degree of steatosis is an important factor that determines the graft function in the recipient and the recovery of the remnant liver in the living donor. To date, there is no consensus regarding how to assess steatosis among potential living liver donors. We evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for steatosis in living liver donors with normal serum aminotransferase levels and without fatty liver on ultrasonography (US-negative).
  
  
  METHODS
  The degree of steatosis was assessed for a total of 492 US-negative living liver donors with normal aminotransferase levels (age 30.1±9.9; male 301 [61.2%]). Total steatosis was defined by adding the degree of macrosteatosis and microsteatosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No liver donor had a severe degree (≥60%) of macrosteatosis or microsteatosis. A moderate degree (30-59%) of macrosteatosis and microsteatosis was seen in 4 (0.8%) and 26 (5.3%) subjects, respectively. Severe and moderate degrees of total steatosis were seen in 3 (0.6%) and 53 (10.8%) subjects, respectively. Body mass index and serum triglyceride levels were independent factors associated with the moderate or greater degree of total steatosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Noninvasive preoperative assessment for liver steatosis (US-negative with normal aminotransferase level) was sufficient to exclude severe macrosteatosis or microsteatosis and moderate macrosteatosis but not sufficient to exclude moderate microsteatosis or total steatosis in living liver donors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dong Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sinn
authors.forename: Geum-Youn
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Gwak
authors.forename: Jong Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Choon Hyuck
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jae Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.forename: Yong-Han
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Moon Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D000637:Transaminases