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Significance of serum β‐ d ‐glucan levels in recipients of living donor liver transplantation
Author(s) -
Yamanouchi Kosho,
Takatsuki Mitsuhisa,
Hidaka Masaaki,
Soyama Akihiko,
Kanematsu Takashi,
Eguchi Susumu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of hepato‐biliary‐pancreatic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.63
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1868-6982
pISSN - 1868-6974
DOI - 10.1007/s00534-010-0363-4
Subject(s) - medicine , glucan , clinical significance , gastroenterology , liver transplantation , living donor liver transplantation , transplantation , surgery , biology , biochemistry
Background/purpose Early identification and treatment of fungal infections is essential for recipients of liver transplants, but the sensitivity of surveillance culture is insufficient. Measurement of the serum level of β‐ d ‐glucan is a rapid diagnostic strategy for invasive fungal infection. We aimed to evaluate the significance of serum β‐ d ‐glucan levels in transplant recipients after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and laboratory data of 100 consecutive adult transplant recipients after LDLT performed between August 1997 and August 2009. Results Seventy‐one had high serum β‐ d ‐glucan levels (>20 pg/ml) after LDLT. Nearly half (47.2%) of the episodes of increase occurred within the first 5 days after surgery. The mortality rate of the recipients with high serum β‐ d ‐glucan levels was similar to that of the recipients without high levels. However, in terms of the time line of increase, the recipients with high serum β‐ d ‐glucan levels from 15 days onward after surgery showed a significantly higher mortality rate than those with high levels before 15 days after surgery (33.3 and 4.3%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions High serum levels of β‐ d ‐glucan at late time points after LDLT indicate established fungal infection and higher mortality.