Compared efficacy of preservation solutions in liver transplantation: a long-term graft outcome study from the European Liver Transplant Registry

Abstract

Between 2003 and 2012, 42 869 first liver transplantations performed in Europe with the use of either University of Wisconsin solution (UW; N = 24 562), histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate(HTK; N = 8696), Celsior solution (CE; N = 7756) or Institute Georges Lopez preservation solution (IGL-1; N = 1855) preserved grafts. Alternative solutions to the UW were increasingly used during the last decade. Overall, 3-year graft survival was higher with UW, IGL-1 and CE (75%, 75% and 73%, respectively), compared to the HTK (69%) (p < 0.0001). The same trend was observed with a total ischemia time (TIT) >12 h or grafts used for patients with cancer (p < 0.0001). For partial grafts, 3-year graft survival was 89% for IGL-1, 67% for UW, 68% for CE and 64% for HTK (p = 0.009). Multivariate analysis identified HTK as an independent factor of graft loss, with recipient HIV (+), donor age ≥65 years, recipient HCV (+), main disease acute hepatic failure, use of a partial liver graft, recipient age ≥60 years, no identical ABO compatibility, recipient hepatitis B surface antigen (-), TIT ≥ 12 h, male recipient and main disease other than cirrhosis. HTK appears to be an independent risk factor of graft loss. Both UW and IGL-1, and CE to a lesser extent, provides similar results for full size grafts. For partial deceased donor liver grafts, IGL-1 tends to offer the best graft outcome.