Donor Liver Blood Tests and Liver Transplant Outcomes: UK Registry Cohort Study

Background. Safely increasing organ utilization is a global priority. Donor serum transaminase levels are often used to decline livers, despite minimal evidence to support such decisions. This study aimed to investigate the impact of donor liver blood tests on transplant outcomes. Methods. This retrospective cohort study used the National Health Service registry on adult liver transplantation (2016-2019); adjusted regressions models were used to assess the effect of donor liver blood tests on outcomes. Results. A total of 3299 adult liver transplant recipients were included (2530 following brain stem death, 769 following circulatory death). Peak alanine transaminase (ALT) ranged from 6 to 5927 U/L (median = 45). Donor cause of death significantly predicted donor ALT; 4.2-fold increase in peak ALT with hypoxic brain injury versus intracranial hemorrhage (adjusted P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, adjusting for a wide range of factors, transaminase level (ALT or aspartate aminotransferase) failed to predict graft survival, primary nonfunction, 90-d graft loss, or mortality. This held true in all examined subgroups, that is, steatotic grafts, donation following circulatory death, hypoxic brain injury donors, and donors, in which ALT was still rising at the time of retrieval. Even grafts from donors with extremely deranged ALT (>1000 U/L) displayed excellent posttransplant outcomes. In contrast, donor peak alkaline phosphatase was a significant predictor of graft loss (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.808; 1.016-3.216; P = 0.044). Conclusions. Donor transaminases do not predict posttransplant outcomes. When other factors are favorable, livers from donors with raised transaminases can be accepted and transplanted with confidence. Such knowledge should improve organ utilization decision-making and prevent future unnecessary organ discard. This provides a safe, simple, and immediate option to expand the donor pool.

Automated summary

This study found that donor liver transaminase levels do not predict transplant outcomes. Liver transplantation from donors with elevated transaminases can be accepted and transplanted confidently when other factors are favorable. This finding is important for improving organ utilization decision-making and preventing unnecessary organ discard.