Abstract

Background: To describe the patomechanism of liver damage in children after liver transplantation, including lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to assess serum tromboxane B2 levels, lipid parameters and glutathione levels in children after liver transplantion and in healthy controls.
Material/Methods: We studied 75 children after liver transplantation (mean 11.7±5.17 y) with normal liver function, and 77 healthy controls (mean 13.0± 3,6 y).
Results: There were significant differences between children after liver
transplantation and healthy controls in tromboxane B2 (TXB2) levels (8.0-180.0 vs. 7-38.0 pg/ml); [lower-upper quartile], HDL-C (45-61 vs. 42.5-56.0 mg/dl), apolipoprotein A1 (1.38-1.59 vs. 1.12-1.52 g/l) and glutathione (GSH) (558.3-754.1 vs. 745.6-800.2 μmol/ml). Transplanted children had significantly higher tromboxane B2, lipoprotein HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 concentrations than control children. Both groups presented with similar levels of T-CH, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C, GPx, Lp(a) and Apo B.
Conclusions: The significantly increased serum tromboxane B2 concentration in children after liver transplantation may point to ongoing inflammation which is not reflected by abnormal liver tests. The study received financial support of the Polish Ministry of Science PB 1977/P01/2007/32.

Keywords: Liver Transplantation