THE TISSUE HYDRATION STATE IN UW-PRESERVED HUMAN DONOR LIVERS - A CLINICAL-STUDY OF THE RELATION BETWEEN PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE RELAXATION-TIMES, DONOR CONDITION, PRESERVATION PROCEDURE, AND EARLY GRAFT FUNCTION

To determine the relation between tissue hydration state-as indicated by tissue proton magnetic resonance relaxation times-in UW-preserved human donor livers and viability parameters of the donor and early graft function, ''ex vivo'' magnetic resonance relaxometry was performed with a clinical MR imaging system. Relaxometric data were obtained from MR images in which signal intensities were directly proportional to T-1 and T-2. Forty three subsequently transplanted livers and five discarded livers were studied. The donor serum concentrations of direct and total bilirubin had a positive correlation with T-1 (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Sequential measurements in 7 livers demonstrated a firm time relation between the cold storage time and the length of the relaxation times. As cold storage time lengthened, T-1 and T-2 shortened. T-1 of the donor liver showed a significant negative correlation with recipient ASAT and ALAT values on days 1, 2, and 3 after transplantation. T-1 in the discarded group was significantly higher than T-1 in the accepted group. T-2 was not different in the two groups. It is concluded that in UW-preserved human donor livers, the tissue hydration state, as indicated by the tissue MR relaxation times, is largely independent of the clinical condition of the organ donor and the preservation procedure. An optimum tissue hydration state, in UW-preserved donors liver might have protective properties against parenchymal damage, although the clinical consequences appear to be of minor importance. The capacity of relaxometry as a discriminative instrument to accept or to discard donor livers is poor.