Changes in liver enzymes after clinical islet transplantation1

BACKGROUND Clinical islet transplantation (ITx) shows insulin independence with adequate metabolic control in patients with type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of elevation in liver enzymes observed after ITx and to investigate any correlation between these elevations and graft characteristics or graft functional outcome. METHODS Eighty-four consecutive ITx procedures were performed in 42 recipients. Liver function tests (LFT) were assessed during the first 40 days posttransplant. LFT elevated greater than or equal to 2.5 times above the upper limit of normal (ULN) were considered relevant. RESULTS In 54% of the transplants, the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) increased by more than 2.5 times above ULN. A 5-fold increase in AST was observed in 27% of the procedures. The highest AST levels were observed after the first ITx. AST for all transplants peaked at 7+/-0.5 days at a value of 162+/-23 U/L (P