Sequential changes in relative liver function assessed by 99mTc-HIDA scintigraphy after auxiliary heterotopic liver...

Auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation (HLT) was used to achieve functional repair in a dog model with an inborn error of metabolism. For the interpretation of the results, information on separate liver function is essential when a normal host liver is also present. We developed a radionuclear method to quantitate the relative contribution of each liver to the total uptake of intravenously (IV) injected 99mTc-HIDA. The HLT was performed between 20 mismatched pairs of dogs from two different strains. Four surgical procedures were used. After autopsy the outcome of the premortem HIDA-scan was compared with the wet weight of the graft and the host liver. A good linear correlation was noted between the relative contribution of the uptake and weight of the graft to the total HIDA uptake and total liver weight. Therefore, the relative contribution of an auxiliary heterotopic liver graft to the total liver function can be quantitated with a 99mTc-HIDA scan. With this technique, changes in relative function after an HLT under various flow conditions can be sequentially followed.