[Serum beta-N-acetyl hexosaminidase as a new marker of graft viability in canine orthotopic liver transplantation].

We investigated the correlation between graft viability and serum beta-N-acetyl hexosaminidase (beta-NAH), a well characterized circulatory lysosomal enzyme degraded specifically by the Kupffer cell. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed in 17 dogs; Group I, 1 hr preservation and survival beyond 3 days; Group II, 1 hr preservation and survival less than 2 days; Group III, 20 hr preservation. Serum beta-NAH was compared with AST and TBA. Serum beta-NAH (nmol/ml/hr) reached the peak values of 611 +/- 125, 1227 +/- 310 and 3952 +/- 685 until 6 hr after reperfusion in groups I, II and III, respectively. AST (IU/L) reached the peak levels of 929 +/- 350, 1581 +/- 396 and 1945 +/- 394 at 24 hr in groups I, II and III, respectively. TBA (mumol/l) reached the peak levels at a time point immediately before reperfusion in group I (37.9 +/- 7.8) and II (42.5 +/- 8.4), whereas prolonged elevation was still continued even after reperfusion in group III. AST gave significant separation only after 24 hr (p < 0.01) between groups I and II and at 15 min (p < 0.01) between groups I and III. In contrast, beta-NAH and TBA showed significant separation between groups I and II at 4 hr (p < 0.01) and between groups I and III at 15 min (p < 0.01). These results suggest that serum beta-NAH is an early, sensitive marker of graft function reflecting both hepatic cellular damage and functional recovery of the reticuloendothelial system.