title: Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Serum Levels of b-Amyloid and Neuronal Microtubule-Associated Protein in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND Because of the restricted data available on patients with postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the goal of our study was to determine the outcome of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on POCD and the mechanism operating in OLT patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our study included 80 patients randomly divided into 2 equal groups: the DEX group and the control group. In the DEX group, our patients received an initial dose of DEX at 1 µg/kg for 10 min followed by a continuous infusion at 0.3 µg/kg/h until the end of surgery. The control group received a saline treatment, and neurological tests were performed to assess the status of POCD. Serum level of b-amyloid protein (Aβ) and neuronal microtubule-associated protein (Tau) were measured at designated time points: at pre-operation (T1), 0.5 h after the anhepatic phase (T2), 2 h after the reperfusion of the new liver (T3), at the completion of operation (T4), at day 1 (T5), and at day 7 (T6) after the operation. RESULTS The incidence of POCD was significantly reduced in the DEX group (P=0.017). The score from the neurological tests was significantly decreased in the control group after the operation, but no statistical difference was observed in the DEX group. The DEX groups demonstrated a lower level of β-amyloid and Tau protein than those at the corresponding time points (T4~T6) in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Dexmedetomidine reduced the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in orthotopic liver transplantation patients. The decreased levels of b-amyloid and Tau protein may have contributed to this favorable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Lan-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Zhen-Tao
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Xue-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000097:blood; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D016875:tau Proteins; D020927:Dexmedetomidine