The effect of alprostadil on hepatic perfusion after transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of alprostadil on hepatic perfusion after transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods Sixty-four consecutive patients with HCC were randomized to either treatment with PGE1 after TACE (treatment group, 32 cases) or no additional treatment after TACE (control group, 32 cases). In PGE1 group, Lipo-PGE1 was administered intravenously once a day for total of seven days, once after completion of TACE. The dosage of Lipo-PGE1 was 0.4μg/kg and rote 0.05 μg·kg-1·min-1. In control group, regular TACE was used. All patients underwent hepatic CT perfusion within 1 week before TACE and 4 weeks after TACE. The parameters of hepatic perfusion, including hepatic arterial perfusion value (HAP), portal vein perfusion value (PVP), total liver perfusion value (TLP) , and hepatic arterial perfusion index (HPI) were measured and compared. Chi-Square test was used for comparison of CT perfusion parameters in different stage, and t test was used for comparison of each CT porfusion parameter between two groups. Results In control group, HAP of pre-TACE, 4 weeks after first TACE, and 4 weeks after second TACE was (0.18±0.08), (0.22±0.09), (0.32±0.10) ml·min-1·ml-1, respectively. Likewise, PVP was (1.11±0.31)、(0.82±0.27)、(0.59±0.25) ml·min-1·ml-1, respectively, and TLP was (1.29±0.33), (1.04±0.28), (0.91±0.24) ml·min-1·ml-1, respectively, and HPI was (14.31±6.36)%, (21.37±9.07)%, (36.67±13.42)%, respectively. The perfusion parameters at different stages of TACE were statistically different (F=19.71,27.47,14.75,41.41, P 0.05). The difference of PVP and TLP between the control and PGE1 group was significant after first TACE(t = -2.37, -2.14, P <0.05)and second TACE (t = 2.55, - 4.49, P < 0.05) In addition, after the second TACE, the HAP and HPI were also significantly different (t = - 3.41,5.09, P < 0.05). Conclusions PVP and TLP decrease while HAP and HPI increase after TACE. Lipo-PGE1 improves hepatic peffusion after TACE, exerting its greatest effect by increasing portal vein perfusion. Consequently, treatment with Lipo-PGE1 appears to increase liver tissue perfusion and thereby alleviate injury induced by TACE. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Chemoembelization, therapeutic; Perfusion; Tomography, X-ray computed