Biliary calprotectin, lactoferrin and dimeric pyruvate kinase after liver transplantation are associated with biliary damage and graft survival in a case-control study.
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Heidelberg, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91400 Paris, France; Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus (GRCC), 94800 Villejuif, France. Electronic address: [Email]
BACKGROUND : After liver transplantation (LT), biliary complications are associated with reduced graft survival. We tested inflammation markers for their association with biliary damage and graft loss in bile. METHODS : The study design was a retrospective case-control study. Calprotectin, lactoferrin and pyruvate kinase were measured in endoscopically retrieved bile with ELISA. RESULTS : Calprotectin and lactoferrin were significantly higher in bile of ischemic-type biliary lesions and donor duct non-anastomotic strictures than in control, bile leakage, Cytomegalovirus infection, anastomotic stricture or acute cellular rejection patients (p<0.001) independent of serum liver values at endoscopy. Calprotectin (p=0.02) was independently associated with retransplantation free survival in multivariate analysis, as was γGT (p=0.03) but not ERC radiographic classification of the bile duct or cold ischemia time. CONCLUSIONS : Calprotectin and lactoferrin are bile markers for biliary damage and are associated with re-transplantation free survival. They can differentiate progressive biliary damage from non-biliary liver value alterations after LT.
