Lack of endothelial dysfunction in patients under tacrolimus after orthotopic liver transplantation

  1. Olivier Rouyer1,2,
  2. Samy Talha1,2,
  3. Paola Di Marco1,2,
  4. Bernard Ellero3,
  5. Stéphane Doutreleau1,2,
  6. Pierre Diemunsch4,
  7. François Piquard1,2,
  8. Bernard Geny1,2

Article first published online: 28 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2009.01013.x

Issue

Clinical Transplantation

Clinical Transplantation

Volume 23, Issue 6, pages 897–903, November/December 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rouyer, O., Talha, S., Di Marco, P., Ellero, B., Doutreleau, S., Diemunsch, P., Piquard, F. and Geny, B. (2009), Lack of endothelial dysfunction in patients under tacrolimus after orthotopic liver transplantation. Clinical Transplantation, 23: 897–903. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2009.01013.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Service de Physiologie et d’Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires

  2. 2

    Equipe d’Accueil 3072, Institut de Physiologie, Faculté de Médecine

  3. 3

    Service de Chirurgie Générale et Transplantations Multiorganes, Hôpitaux Universitaires

  4. 4

    Département d’Anesthésie, Hôpitaux Universitaires, CHRU Strasbourg, Cedex, France

*Olivier Rouyer, Service de Physiologie et d’Explorations Fonctionnelles, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, HUS, Strasbourg, 67000 Cedex, France. Tel.: +33(0)3 69 55 08 47; fax: +33(0)3 69 55 18 26; e-mail: olivier.rouyer@chru-strasbourg.fr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 25 NOV 2009
  2. Article first published online: 28 JUN 2009
  3. Accepted for publication 28 April 2009

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Keywords:

  • endothelin;
  • endothelial dysfunction;
  • nitric oxide;
  • tacrolimus;
  • liver transplantation

Abstract:  Background:  Endothelial dysfunction is a significant cause of vascular and end-organ damage after solid organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to compare endothelial function in healthy controls and in patients who received tacrolimus for immunosuppression after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods:  Eight OLT patients and eight age- and BMI-matched healthy subjects were included in the study. Apart from hemodynamic parameters, enzymatic liver function, fasting plasma glucose levels, creatinine, cholesterol, nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in the brachial artery was determined by bi-mode ultrasound.

Results:  Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were higher in OLT recipients compared with the control group, but remained within normal limits. Blood results did not differ significantly between the groups. Circulating nitric oxide (152.2 ± 29.7 vs. 180.6 ± 40.1 μmol/L) and endothelin-1 (20.5 ± 1.0 vs. 18.9 ± 1.3 pmol/L) values were similar, and the FMD was normal in both groups (10.29 ± 0.89 vs. 9.86 ± 2.43% in controls and OLT recipients, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma tacrolimus levels after OLT and FMD (r = 0.72, p < 0.05).

Conclusion:  As assessed by both laboratory and functional approaches, endothelial function was unaltered in patients taking tacrolimus after OLT. The positive correlation between tacrolimus plasma levels and FMD suggest that tacrolimus might have beneficial effects on endothelial function after OLT.

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