Z Gastroenterol 2007; 45 - P315
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-988461

Exogenous administration of Erythropoetin improves liver regeneration of the donor and recipient in a rat model of living related liver transplantation

M Bockhorn 1, C Fingas 1, SY Sheu 2, A Frilling 1, CE Broelsch 1, JF Schlaak 3
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Essen, Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Essen, Germany
  • 2Universitätsklinikum Essen, Pathologie und Neuropathologie, Essen, Germany
  • 3Universitätsklinikum Essen, Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie, Essen, Germany

Background and aims: Insufficient liver regeneration is still a major problem in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Recently, it has been stated that erythropoietin (EPO) has a wide range of nonerythropoetic functions. We have investigated EPO induced liver regeneration to explore its potential use as an exogenous stimulator of liver regeneration.

Methods: Male Lewis rats were preconditioned and treated perioperatively with repeated doses of EPO or NaCl, respectively, and underwent 70% or 90% partial hepatectomy (PH) or partial liver transplantation (pLTx). Samples were taken to investigate liver serum and functional parameters, liver body weight ratio (LBWR), and hepatocyte proliferation (Ki-67). Additional rats were assessed for overall survival.

Results: Exogenous administration of EPO led to improved liver regeneration as shown by increased Ki-67 proliferation index and increased LBWR in donor and recipient after pLTx. Liver damage was reduced as shown by improved functional parameters. Furthermore, treatment with EPO led to a significantly improved overall survival after 90% PH and pLTx.

Conclusions: This data shows that preconditioning of the donor and treatment of the recipient with EPO improves significantly the clinical outcome after extended hepatectomy and partial liver transplantation. Therefore, treatment with EPO may represent a promising strategy to optimize LDLT.