Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury at Time-Zero Biopsy as a Prognostic Factor in Predicting Liver Graft Outcome in Egyptian...

Background and Aims: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is believed to contribute to the early dysfunction of the graft as well as the survival of the patients following liver transplantation (LT). This study is aimed at ascertaining the role of time-zero biopsies in predicting early graft dysfunction and 5-year patient survival after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Patients and Methods: From February 2012 to August 2017, time-zero biopsies were obtained from 60 patients. Histological grading of time-zero biopsies was performed to identify the severity of IRI. Patients were divided into two groups: no or minimal to mild IRI versus moderate to severe IRI. Results: Time-zero biopsies of 60 liver allografts revealed no or minimal to mild IRI (n = 38, 63.3%) (Group 1) versus moderate to severe IRI (n = 22, 36.7%) (Group 2). Group 2 recipients indicated a significant increase in serum bilirubin and a higher incidence of early graft dysfunction. There were significant survival differences between the two groups (p = 0.033), and the rate of death was higher in the moderate to severe IRI group. Recipient age, steatosis, and longer CIT were identified as independent predictors of moderate to severe IRI. Conclusion: Time-zero biopsies with moderate to severe IRI upon biopsy can predict adverse clinical outcomes following LT.