PREOPERATIVE RISK FACTORS FOR ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: RESULTS FROM A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN NORTHEAST OF BRAZIL

Fatores de risco pré-operatórios para lesão renal aguda após transplante hepático: resultados de um estudo transversal no Nordeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate preoperative risk factors for AKI after liver transplantation.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults submitted to orthotopic liver transplantation at a reference hospital in Fortaleza, Northeast of Brazil, from January to December 2016. Preoperative risk factors were evaluated for AKI development in the immediate postoperative period. AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria.

RESULTS:

A total of 40 patients were included in the study. AKI was found in 85% of patients in the first 24 hours after transplantation, most of them (40%) classified in KDIGO stage 1. Preoperative data indicate that serum albumin levels were lower in the KDIGO stage 3 group compared to the non-AKI group, as well as the hematocrit levels. Direct bilirubin (DB) was higher in the KDIGO stage 3 group compared to the group without AKI, as well as alkaline phosphatase (AP) and gamma-glutamiltransferase (GGT). In a logistic regression analysis independent risk factors for AKI were increase levels of AP, GGT and DB and decrease level of serum albumin.

CONCLUSION:

Low levels of serum albumin, and elevated levels of DB, AP and GGT in the preoperative period are risk factors for AKI development after liver transplantation.

HEADINGS:
Liver transplantation; Acute kidney injury; Risk factors; Prognosis

RESUMO

CONTEXTO:

Lesão renal aguda (LRA) é uma complicação comum no pós-operatório imediato do transplante hepático.

OBJETIVO:

O objetivo foi avaliar os fatores de risco pré-operatórios para LRA após o transplante hepático.

MÉTODOS:

Foi realizado estudo transversal com adultos submetidos a transplante hepático ortotópico em um hospital de referência em Fortaleza, Nordeste do Brasil, de janeiro a dezembro de 2016. Foram avaliados os fatores de risco pré-operatórios para o desenvolvimento de LRA no pós-operatório. LRA foi definida de acordo com os critérios do Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO).

RESULTADOS:

Foram incluídos 40 pacientes no estudo. LRA foi encontrada em 85% dos casos nas primeiras 24 horas após o transplante, sendo a maioria deles (40%) classificados no estágio KDIGO 1. Os dados pré-operatórios indicaram que os níveis séricos de albumina eram menores nos pacientes no estágio KDIGO 3, em comparação com o grupo sem LRA, bem como os níveis de hematócrito. Os níveis de bilirrubina direta (BD) eram maiores nos pacientes no estágio KDIGO 3 em comparação ao grupo sem LRA, bem como os níveis de fosfatase alcalina (FA) e gama-glutamiltransferase (GGT). Em um modelo de regressão logística, os fatores de risco independentes para LRA foram: níveis elevados de FA, GGT e BD e níveis reduzidos de albumina.

CONCLUSÃO:

Níveis reduzidos de albumina sérica, e níveis elevados de BD, FA e GGT no período pré-operatório são fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de LRA após o transplante hepático.

DESCRITORES:
Transplante de fígado; Lesão renal aguda; Fatores de risco; Prognóstico

INTRODUCTION

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing liver transplantation, with varying incidence¹. Past studies have found AKI in 12% to 95% of patients after liver transplantation², with 8%-17% requiring renal replacement therapy, and it is associated with worse outcomes³.

AKI etiology after liver transplantation is variable and depends on multiple factors, as acute tubular necrosis secondary to renal ischemia, drug nephrotoxicity (antibiotics and immunosuppressants), and previous patients’ clinical conditions related to the degree of hepatic decompensation or the presence of hepatorenal syndrome⁴.

The degree of hepatic decompensation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of AKI not only due to hemodynamic abnormalities, but also as a consequence of inflammatory process secondary to cirrhosis complications, such as sepsis, and due to associated comorbidities such as virus C hepatitis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been studied and are associated with AKI development after liver transplantation^5,6.

The aim of this study was to investigate preoperative risk factors for AKI after orthotopic liver transplantation.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed in adults submitted to orthotopic liver transplantation at a reference hospital in Fortaleza city, Ceará, Northeast of Brazil, from January to December 2016. The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Brazil.

Exclusion criteria were: patients under 18 years of age; glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m² previous to transplantation; AKI at the current hospital admission, previous to the transplantation; simultaneous hepatic and renal transplantation, or hepatic and pancreas transplantation; use of nephrotoxic drugs, except those used in the specific treatment of transplantation, such as immunosuppressants.

Clinical data collected from patients were: age, gender, history of systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, habits (alcoholism, smoking, use of illicit drugs), CHILD-PUGH classification and MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) score. Preoperative laboratory evaluation included serum urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, serum albumin, serum glucose, total bilirubin and their fractions, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time), cholesterol, triglycerides, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count.

AKI was evaluated in the first 24 hours after liver transplantation and defined according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria as an increase from 1.5 to 1.9 fold or greater than or equal to 0.3 mg/dL above the baseline creatinine (KDIGO stage 1); increase from 2 to 2.9 times the baseline creatinine (KDIGO 2); increase greater than three times the baseline creatinine or greater than or equal to 4 mg/dL or renal replacement therapy need (KDIGO 3)^7,8. AKI can also be defined by urinary flow change: less than 0.5 mL/kg/hour for 6 hours (KDIGO 1); Less than 0.5 mL/kg/hour for 12 hours (KDIGO 2); Less than 0.3 mL/kg/hour for 24 hours or anuria for 12 hours (KDIGO 3). In this study only the change in serum creatinine was evaluated since urinary flow data were not available for all patients.

Statistical analyzes were performed with the SPSS program version 20.0 (IBM, USA). Pearson’s chi-square test was applied for tests of association and homogeneity in the distribution of categorized data. For the quantitative variables, the analysis was done by observing the minimum and maximum values, calculation of means and standard deviations. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to verify the normal distribution of the continuous variables. Student’s t-test (parametric test) was applied to compare independent groups. For comparison of three or more independent groups the ANOVA (parametric test) was used. In a logistic regression, univariate and multivariate models was used for assessing the independent risk factors for AKI. Significance level was set on 5% (P<0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients were included, with a mean age of 53 years (range 19-72), and 22 were males (53%). The incidence of systemic arterial hypertension was 18.8% and diabetes mellitus was 20.5%. AKI was observed in 34 cases in the first 24 hours after transplantation (85%) (Table 1).

TABLE 1:
Clinical characteristics of 40 patients evaluated in the post-liver transplantation. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, 2016

	N	%
Gender
Male	22	55
Female	18	45
Acute kidney injury	34	85
KDIGO 1	16	40
KDIGO 2	9	22.5
KDIGO 3	9	22.5
Comorbidities
Diabetes mellitus	8	20.5
Systemic arterial hypertension	9	18.8
Smoking	7	18.4
Alcoholism	20	53.6
Use of illicit drugs	1	2.6
Classification CHILD-PUGH
A	6	16.2
B	13	35.1
C	18	48.6

• KDIGO: Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria

There was a higher frequency of CHILD C classification among those with AKI, and there was no significant difference in the other parameters evaluated (Table 2). The preoperative predictors of AKI were low serum albumin, low hematocrit value and high values of direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P<0.05) (Table 3). These laboratory changes were more significant among patients with KDIGO stage 3 compared to the non-AKI group: low serum albumin (2.8±0.3 vs 3.48±0.48, P<0.05), low hematocrit value (25±10 vs 37±4.8, P<0.05), high direct bilirubin (7.9±6.9 vs 1.95±3.7, P<0.05), high alkaline phosphatase (658±421 vs 218±199, P<0.05) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (371±185 vs 167±142, P<0.05).

TABLE 2:
Comparison of the clinical characteristics of patients evaluated in the post-liver transplantation according to the occurrence of acute renal injury. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, 2016

	AKI* (n=34)	Non-AKI (n=6)	P
Gender
Male	18	4	0.53
	(52.9%)	(66.7%)
Female	16	2
	(47.1%)	(33.3%)
Comorbidities
Diabetes mellitus	6	2	0.39
Systemic arterial	(18.2%)	(33.3%)	0.15
hypertension	0	9 (26.5%)
Smoking	5 (15.2%)	2 (40%)	0.18
Alcoholism	4 (30%)	16 (48.5%)	0.69
Use of illicit drugs Classification CHILD-PUGH	0	1 (3%)	0.69
A	3 (9.7%)	3 (50%)	0.03*
B	11 (35.5%)	2 (33.3%)
C	17 (54.8%)	1 (16.7%)

• AKI: acute renal injury. Fisher’s test, significant P<0.05.

TABLE 3:
Comparison of laboratory data of patients evaluated in the preoperative period according to the occurrence of acute renal injury after liver transplantation. Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, 2016

	Non-AKI	AKI KDIGO 1	AKI KDIGO 2	AKI KDIGO 3
	(n=6)	(n=16)	(n=9)	(n=9)
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	P
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.84±0.27	0.8±0.3	0.85±0.4	0.82±0.4	0.98
Urea (mg/dL)	31±15	28±14	51±42	32±23	0.17
GFR (mL/min)	87±14	95±23	93±39	96±29	0.92
Sodium (mEq/L)	134±7	133±8	131±6	134±3	0.82
Potassium (mEq/L)	4.4±0.5	4.6±0.7	4.5±0.7	4.1±0.6	0.49
Albumin (g/dL)	3.48±0.48	3.1±0.3	2.9±0.5	2.8±0.3	0.04*
Glucose (mg/dL)	84±44	123±44	125±36	98±43	0.15
TB (mg/dL)	4.94±9	5.87±6.4	10.62±10.69	10.66±7.96	0.08
DB (mg/dL)	1.95±3.7	3.13±5.0	7.34±8.2	7.90±6.9	0.02*
IB (mg/dL)	2.99±5.3	2.74±2.7	3.28±3.5	2.76±1.4	0.44
APTT (R)	1.1±0.1	1.2±0.4	1.3±0.2	1.3±0.3	0.95
AST (IU/L)	108±182	98±96	66±39	121±69	0.78
ALT (IU/L)	62.5±89	47.9±45	38±21	33±38	0.68
AP (IU/L)	218±199	261±202	386±174	658±421	<0.05**
GGT (U/ L)	167±142	110±64	198±246	371±185	<0.05**
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	150±19	120±31	128±50	162±40	0.31
Triglycerides (mg/dL)	99±45	79±36	77±33	81±58	0.90
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	12±1.8	11±2.1	11±1.8	10±2.0	0.10
Hematocrit (%)	37±4.8	33±6.1	32±5	25±10	<0.05*
Leukocytes (/mm3)	6140±3993	6041±1739	6509±2813	5375±2953	0.84
Platelets (10³/mm3)	108±36	91±39	117±53	97±53	0.58
MELD	19±8	24±5	23±4	22±4	0.40

• AKI: acute renal injury; KDIGO: Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria; GFR: glomerular filtration rate (mL/min/1.73m²); TB: total bilirubin; DB: direct bilirubin; IB: indirect bilirubin; APTT: activated partial thromboplastin time (R: patient/control ratio); AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AP: alkaline phosphatase; GGT: gamma-glutamyltransferase; MELD: model for end-stage liver disease. ANOVA test was used for all variables. * P<0.05 in AKI-KDIGO 3 vs Non-AKI; ** P<0.05 in AKI-KDIGO 3 vs Non-AKI and AKI-KDIGO 1.

Independent risk factors for AKI were increase in alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and direct bilirubin levels, while albumin levels were protective factor (normal or high levels of albumin were associated with less risk of AKI). All Odds ratio and confidence interval values were described in Table 4.

TABLE 4:
Evaluation of preoperative risk factors in univariate and multivariate models for severe acute kidney injury development

	Univariate analysis	Model 1	Model 2
	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)	OR (95% CI)
Age (year)	0.976 (0.919-1.037)	0.974 (0.915-1.037)	0.974 (0.902-1.051)
Gender (male)	1.042 (0.298-3.645)	1.192 (0.314-4.525)	2.244 (0.327-15.392)
MELD (perunit)	1.002 (0.886-1.132)	1.001 (0.882-1.137)	1.117 (0.926-1.348)
Surgery time (hour)	0.576 (0.258-1.287)	0.532 (0.229-1.237)	0.340 (0.106-1.088)
Hematocrit (%)	0.884 (0.784-0.998)*	0.884 (0.780-1.002)	0.924 (0.758-1.127)
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	0.703 (0.492-1.004)	0.713 (0.496-1.024)	0.705 (0.459-1.083)
Sodium (mEq/L)	0.990 (0.900-1.094)	0.992 (0.895-1.100)	1.061 (0.901-1.249)
Potassium (mEq/L)	0.604 (0.228-1.598)	0.567 (0.184-1.742)	0.757 (0.178-3.220)
Alkaline phosphatase* (per 50 IU/L)	1.315 (1.039-1.664)*	1.431 (1.083-1.892)*	1.013 (1.002-1.025)*
Gamma-glutamyltransferase* (per 10 IU/L)	1.352 (1.029-1.778)*	1.405 (1.035-1.908)*	1.012 (0.994-1.030)
Direct bilirubin* (mg/dL)	1.151 (1.011-1.310)*	1.209 (1.027-1.432)*	1.232 (1.016-1.494)*
Albumin* (per each 0.5 g/dL)	0.117 (0.030-0.451)*	0.118 (0.030-0.464)*	0.014 (0.0001-0.661)*

• Model 1: age, gender, MELD classification. Model 2: age, gender, MELD classification, surgery time, hemoglobin, platelets, leukocytes, serum sodium and potassium. *P<0.05.

DISCUSSION

Liver transplantation is the only treatment option for terminal liver disease. AKI is a common complication following liver transplantation, which was found in a high proportion of patients in our study. There are many intraoperative risk factors related to the surgical technique and clinical conditions such as hemodynamic status and hydroelectrolytic disorders⁹. Postoperative risk factors include immunosuppressive drugs, infectious complications, use of antibiotics, sepsis, prolonged hypotension and use of radiological contrasts¹⁰. Preoperative risk factors were evaluated in the present study and seem to be related to the overall bad clinical condition of patients at the time they will undergo the liver transplantation.

The piggyback technique was performed in all cases, and there was no difference between the group AKI or not AKI about the surgery duration, what was also observed in a study performed by Sirivatanauksorn et al.¹¹.

In patients with AKI, according to the KDIGO classification, pre -operative hematocrit was lower (P<0.05). In a study performed by Erdost et al.⁷, the pre-operative hemoblobin level was also lower in patients with acute renal injury (ARI) using risk, injury, failure, loss, and end-stage renal failure (RIFLE) classification and these patients received significantly more red blood cells (RBC) and fresh-frozen plasma (FFP). The ARI rate increased according to the RIFLE classification if pre-operative hemoglobin level was <9 g/dL (OR, 2.830; 95% CI, 1.157e6.926). However, no similar relationship was detected between pre-operative hemoglobin level and acute kidney injury network (AKIN) or KDIGO classifications. In our study, the pre-operative hemoglobin level was lower in AKI group (Table 3).

Most cases of AKI observed in this study were classified in the KDIGO stage 1, reflecting a mild kidney injury. However, recent evidence suggests that even mild/early-stage AKI can lead to serious complications such as prolonged hospital stay, intensive care unit admission need and increased mortality¹², so it is important to identify these patients and provide early specific support for kidney health, including adequate fluid support, electrolyte imbalance correction and avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs use.

There was an association between AKI development and the severity of liver disease, as assessed by the CHILD-PUGH score, which was also observed in previous study¹³. This is an expected finding since the severity of liver disease is related to pathophysiological changes that compromise glomerular filtration rate: blood pressure is reduced, renal adrenergic tone is increased, cardiac performance is reduced as a consequence of volume overload, the synthesis of vasoprotective peptides is reduced and intra-abdominal pressure is elevated in the context of portal hypertension¹⁴. Traditionally, these hemodynamic changes secondary to cirrhosis were the only factors responsible for changes in renal function. It is also known that renal dysfunction in cirrhotic patients can be triggered by inflammatory processes. Inflammatory mediators, derived from response to pathogens or from immune cell activation secondary to the underlying disease itself, can cause microcirculatory disorders and consequent oxidative stress and renal tubular injury³.

In the present study, the MELD classification was not a risk factor for AKI development. Patients with previously impaired renal function were excluded from this study. This is perhaps the reason why patients with elevated MELD had no significance for the AKI development in the postoperative period, since patients with the highest MELD scores have already developed AKI in the preoperative period or have already developed chronic kidney disease during preparation for liver transplantation. Also noteworthy is the additional score on the MELD scale that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receive for allocation in the national organ donation ranking, which overestimate the severity of the liver disease, and may be a factor of bias. In our study, the prevalence of hepatocarcinoma was high (27.5%).

Comparing group AKI vs no-AKI, there were significantly more patients CHILD C in AKI group (54.8%) than in no AKI (16.7%). Klaus et al.¹ did not found Child- Pugh score as an independent risk factor, however it was used the AKIN classification, with no relationship with RIFLE or KDIGO.

Several studies have shown an association between pre- LT MELD score and post-LT AKI. Especially patients with high MELD-scores are found to have a significantly increased risk of post-LT AKI¹⁵. In this study, MELD scores, as a quantitative variable presented no significant difference between patients with or without AKI. However, MELD was more useful if used as a qualitative variable, associated with severe AKI (need for dialysis)¹⁰. A possibly cut-off level of 22 was useful to determine which patients were at risk of developing severe renal dysfunction. In the present study mean MELD was 22, which reflects the worse condition of liver function in our patients.

There was a significant association between reduced preoperative values of serum albumin and the development of AKI, with the most significant changes found in the more advanced AKI stages. The relationship between hepatic dysfunction and hypoalbuminemia is well known, but between hypoalbuminemia and AKI is less clear. A meta-analysis showed that hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for the development of AKI¹⁶. A study developed by Garcia-Martinez et al.¹⁷ showed that albumin infusion in patients with AKI and acute on chronic kidney disease reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, with an improvement in endothelial function and renal blood flow, supporting the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of AKI.

There was also a significant difference between the preoperative laboratory tests in relation to direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, with higher levels in the more advanced stages of AKI and in relation to hematocrit (lower levels in AKI patients). This finding reinforces the positive association of AKI with the degree of hepatic dysfunction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pre-operative risk factors of AKI in patients undergoing liver transplantation; and, because of this, it was not discussed the immunosuppression therapy.

In conclusion, the present study showed that AKI is a frequent complication in the immediate postoperative period of patients undergoing liver transplantation. There is an important association between the severity of liver disease (in the preoperative period) and AKI development. Low levels of serum albumin, high levels of direct bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase are risk factors for AKI development after liver transplantation. Better strategies to prevent this complication are urgently required, including a careful renal support and kidney function optimization before liver transplantation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for financial support to Elizabeth Daher.

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  Hilmi IA, Damian D, Al-Khafaji A, Planinsic R, Boucek C, Sakai T, et al. Acute kidney injury following orthotopic liver transplantation: incidence, risk factors, and effects on patient and graft outcomes. Br J Anaesthes. 2015;114:919-26.
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• Disclosure of funding: no funding received.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Jan-Mar 2018

History

• Received
  14 Mar 2017
• Accepted
  04 Oct 2017