Influence of perioperative sHLA I concentrations on the histological development of the liver graft

Soluble HLA I (sHLA I) in human serum are ascribed an immunoregulatory role in the context of organ transplantation. Based on histological findings, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the protective influence of sHLA I in liver transplantation from the time point of reperfusion. The sHLA I concentrations in serum samples derived from the liver vein immediately after reperfusion (flush catheter) of 38 patients with liver transplantations were determined by ELISA. The postoperative histological findings of the transplant biopsies were categorized according to rejection, endothelialitis, cholestasis, and necrosis, as well as fatty degeneration. An evaluation according to Kaplan-Meier showed a lower incidence for all of these factors in liver grafts with high sHLA concentrations (P < 0.05). We conclude that low sHLA I concentrations during reperfusion correlate with later complications, thus indicating that sHLA I may have protective potential in liver transplantation.