Relationship between serum lactate and early prognosis after liver transplantation in children / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum lactate level and early prognosis after liver transplantation (LT) in children.Methods:Between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020, 675 pediatric LT recipients were recruited. Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed, early postoperative serum lactate level and clearance rate recorded and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve plotted for determining optimal cut-off values. The inter-group differences in early postoperative complications and patient/graft survival rates were compared.Results:According to ROC, blood lactate levels >1.99 mmol/L at 12 h postoperatively were associated with early postoperative graft loss (AUC 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.84, P=0.01). Age and weight of recipients in high-level group were 7.17(5.70-10.40) month and 7.00(6.00-8.60) kg and both were significantly lower than those in low-level group [7.80(6.21-13.58) month and 7.20(6.45-9.00) kg]. The inter-group differences were statistically significant ( P=0.017, P=0.034). Blood plasma transfusion volume, red blood cell transfusion volume, portal vein pressure pre-closure, postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ventilator use time, early allograft dysfunction rate, early postoperative pulmonary infection rate and recipient mortality rate in high-level group were 400 (200-400) ml, 2.00 (2.00-4.00) U, (15.71±4.44) mmHg, 2.50(2.00-3.00) day, 3.81(2.47-8.50) hour, 22.95%(42/185), 16.76%(31/185) and 6.49%(12/185) respectively. The above values were significantly higher than those in low-level group 200(100-400) ml, 2.00 (2.00-3.00) U, (14.69±4.68) mmHg, 2.00(2.00-3.00) day, 3.53(2.34-6.12) hour, 14.69%(72/490), 11.02%(54/490) and 1.43%(7/490) respectively. The inter-group differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001, P=0.014, P=0.015, P=0.037, P=0.043, P=0.011, P=0.045 & P<0.001). The incidence of early postoperative acute cellular rejection was significantly lower in high-level group than that in low-level group [11.89%(22/185) vs 22.86%(112/490)]. The inter-group difference was statistically significant ( P=0.01). The 1/3-month cumulative survival rates of patient/graft were 94.6%, 94.1% and 92.4%, 91.4% in high-level group versus 99.2%, 98.6% and 99.0%, 98.4% in low-level group. There were significant inter-group differences ( P=0, P<0.000 1). With a rising level of lactate at 12 h postoperatively, risk of early graft loss and early recipient mortality spiked markedly ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum lactate level post-operation is a valid predictor of early prognosis after LT in children.