24 hour hypothermic liver perfusion

‘Extended hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion enables ex situ preservation of porcine livers for up to 24 hours’ is the title of a pre-clinical trial performed by the group of Prof.R.J.Porte (UMC Groningen, The Netherlands). The aim of this trial was to show whether extended dHOPE perfusion could extend the total preservation time of livers up to 24 hours. Initially the aim was to perform this pre-clinical trial on porcine grafts first. After the initial group of porcine livers they were able to perfuse two discarded human liver grafts.  That enabled them to show comparable results of the ‘treatment’ to these grafts as well.

The published paper is showing good results. The trial showed that perfusion flows remained stable during DHOPE, regardless of duration. After normothermic reperfusion, livers perfused for 24 h by dHOPE had similar lactate clearance, blood pH, glucose, and alanine aminotransferase levels, and biliary pH, bicarbonate, and LDH levels, as livers perfused for 2 h and 6 h. Levels of malondialdehyde and high-mobility group box 1 in serum and liver parenchyma were similar for all groups. Histological analysis of bile ducts and liver parenchyma revealed no differences between the groups. Extended DHOPE in discarded human livers preserved hepatocellular and cholangiocyte function and histology after reperfusion. In contrast, livers preserved by 24 h SCS were non-functioning.

Interested in reading the complete article? Read the free access article here.

Image from article as published in the Journal of Hepatology, April 2020