Leukotriene C4 detection as an early graft function marker in liver transplantation

Abstract

Leukotrienes are a group of compounds belonging to the eicosanoid family that are formed from the metabolism of arachidonic acid by means of 5-lipoxigenase. Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) has a pronounced proinflammatory character and is formed by combining leukotriene A4 with glutation. This step is catalyzed mainly by the isoenzyme 4-4 of the hepatic glutation transferases, although other enzymes may participate in its formation. The liver plays a decisive part in the formation of this compound despite the fact that it can be synthesized along other cellular lines. In orthotopic liver transplant (OLT), the evaluation of the early functioning of the graft is, in many cases, complex. The difficulty of evaluation lies in the absence of specific markers to indicate when the transplanted organ will prove viable notwithstanding the damage resulting from preservation, and when these lesions are irreversible. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between the ability to synthesize LTC4 immediately after OLT and the early functioning of the graft.