Serum lipid expression correlates with function and regeneration following living donor liver transplantation

Following living donor liver transplantation (LDLT; and unlike deceased donor liver transplantation [DDLT]), the liver must rapidly regenerate, and sometimes segmental graft dysfunction (SGD) is observed. Hepatic regeneration requires substantial de novo lipid synthesis, and we previously reported that expression of lipid-related genes is dysregulated in LDLT. Here, we compare serum lipid measurements in 41 LDLT recipients and 43 DDLT recipients at baseline and at serial posttransplant time points. In addition, we examined whether serum lipid/apolipoprotein (apo) levels correlate with the degree of liver regeneration (measured using percent volume increase [%VI] at 3 months) or SGD in LDLT recipients. In contrast to DDLT, lipid levels declined early after LDLT but returned to baseline by 30 days. The odds ratio (OR) for achieving robust regeneration (>90 %VI) was 2.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-5.52) for every 1 mg/dL increase in serum apoE at 30 days. The OR of SGD for every year increase in donor age was 1.19 (95% CI, 1.02-1.39), and 0.61 for every 1 mg/dL increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 7 days (95% CI, 0.34-1.11). No associations were detected between preoperative serum lipids/apos in LDLT donors and SGD or %VI in recipients. In conclusion, we suggest that initiation of regeneration prevents the liver from participating fully in lipid transport and metabolism. Inability to meet systemic metabolic needs may result in compromised liver function and SGD. Certain serum lipid concentrations correlate with extent of liver regeneration and function.