Low Preoperative Antithrombin III Level Is Associated with Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury after Liver Transplantation

Abstract

We aimed to determine the association between the preoperative antithrombin III (ATIII) level and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) after LT (post-LT AKI). We retrospectively evaluated 2395 LT recipients between 2010 and 2018 whose data of perioperative ATIII levels were available. Patients were divided into two groups based on the preoperative level of ATIII (ATIII < 50% vs. ATIII ≥ 50%). Multivariable regression analysis was performed to assess the risk factors for post-LT AKI. The mean preoperative ATIII levels were 30.2 ± 11.8% in the ATIII < 50% group and 67.2 ± 13.2% in the ATIII ≥ 50% group. The incidence of post-LT AKI was significantly lower in the ATIII ≥ 50% group compared to that in the ATIII < 50% group (54.7% vs. 75.5%, p < 0.001); odds ratio (OR, per 10% increase in ATIII level) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.92; p < 0.001. After a backward stepwise regression model, female sex, high body mass index, low albumin, deceased donor LT, longer duration of surgery, and high red blood cell transfusion remained significantly associated with post-LT AKI. A low preoperative ATIII level is associated with post-LT AKI, suggesting that preoperative ATIII might be a prognostic factor for predicting post-LT AKI.