Hepatocellular integrity in liver donors and recipients indicated by glutathione transferase alpha

Glutathione transferase Alpha (GSTA) is a sensitive indicator of hepatocellular integrity. Its reference range is low (0.7-14 microgram/L) and its half-life is short (1 hr) in serum. We evaluated the changes in GSTA concentration in 18 recipients during and after liver transplantation. The respective liver donors were also included in 13 cases. The baseline GSTA concentrations were normal or slightly elevated in all donors, 1.2-79 micrograms/L (median 5.1 micrograms/L) and recipients, 1.1-34 micrograms/L (median 6.4 micrograms/L). Surgical dissection of donor liver caused a moderate or even large increase in GSTA concentration, peak 80-6500 microgram/L (median 800 micrograms/L). In the recipients the peak of GSTA concentrations varied from 1400 to 47000 micrograms/L (median 5000 micrograms/L), and it was always observed within 45 min after reperfusion of the graft. The highest GSTA values were observed after long cold ischemia and in patients transplanted for acute liver failure. However, they were not associated with early graft dysfunction. There was a correlation between the AUC of GSTA and cold ischemia time in the recipients with chronic nonalcoholic liver failure (r=0.94). There was no correlation between GSTA values in the donors and recipients (r=0.14). The apparent half-life of GSTA in serum was 56 min (median). Perioperative GSTA concentrations in the donors had no obvious predictive value. In the recipients an exceptionally long apparent half-life of GSTA immediately after transplantation or a large second increase in GSTA were predictors of postoperative complications.