6533b861fe1ef96bd12c5091

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Influence of cold ischemia time on complement activation, neopterin, and cytokine release in liver transplantation.

subject

description

The aim of this study was to determine whether a cold ischemia time (CIT) of12 hours influences the activation of complement as well as the plasma concentrations of neopterin, interleukin (IL)-6, or IL-8 in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).Eighteen consecutive patients undergoing OLT using a veno-venous bypass technique were divided into 2 groups: duration of CIT12 hours (group 1; n = 11), and CIT12 hours (group 2; n = 7). Blood samples were drawn preoperatively, 1 minute before, and 120 minutes after reperfusion.Preoperatively, complement split products, neopterin, IL-6, and IL-8 levels did not differ between the groups. At 120 minutes after reperfusion, the concentrations of C3a, SC5b-9, neopterin, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly increased in both groups compared with the preoperative values or the levels determined 1 minute before reperfusion (P.05). Patients in group 1 showed significantly higher IL-8 levels at 120 minutes after reperfusion (P.05).Complement is activated and pro-inflammatory cytokines released after reperfusion in OLT using a veno-venous bypass technique, but only IL-8 plasma levels were influenced by the duration of CIT. Therefore, alterations following prolonged CIT seem to not be complement-mediated.