Abstract
A partial hepatectomy is a surgical procedure performed during the living-donor liver transplantation and sometimes the only option for patients with hepatocarcinoma. However the remnant liver after the hepatectomy is still a major concern. Therefore, the process of liver regeneration has been a constant theme of study in order to optimize this process. Erythropoietin, a hormone produced by the kidney and involved in protecting organs like heart, liver and kidney itself against injuries can be one of these factors that could accelerate the liver regeneration. This study aims to observe if erythropoietin can accelerate the process of liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in pigs. Methods: 8 pigs were classified into 2 groups of 4 pigs each: the control group and the test group. The animals in the first group underwent an application of saline solution subcutaneous on the day before the hepatectomy. Instead of saline solution, the test groups received a subcutaneous injection of 200 UI/lg of recombinant erythropoietin also on the day before the surgical procedure. After 7 days since the hepatectomy, in each animal the liver was biopsied in two regions, one next to the hepatectomy section and other far from it. The liver regeneration was analyzed using Ki-67. Results: Pigs from control group presented the following results: Control pig I: 30% of regeneration in the hepatectomy section and 10% in the region far from it; control pig II 24% and 4%; control pig III 27% and 7%. The test group presented no significant liver regeneration since Ki-67 could not identify cell proliferation in neither the biopsied areas. Conclusion: Since the number of pigs was not statistically significant, we could not conclude any further hypothesis. We strong believe that enhancing the number of pigs and testing different doses, we will be able to reach further conclusions.
Highlights
One of the distinctive and unique characteristics of the liver is its regenerative ability [1]
Partial hepatic resection is many times the only option for patients suffering with hepatocellular carcinoma and is a procedure frequently used in living-donor liver transplants
This study aims to verify the protective role of erythropoietin in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in pigs and its influence in the optimization of this process
Summary
One of the distinctive and unique characteristics of the liver is its regenerative ability [1]. Partial hepatic resection is many times the only option for patients suffering with hepatocellular carcinoma and is a procedure frequently used in living-donor liver transplants. This resection is limited by the need to preserve a sufficient amount of functional liver tissue, since excessive resection may lead to liver failure just a few days after the surgical procedure [2]-[4]. A two-stage hepatectomy and the emoblization of the vena cava post-operatively are the approaches most commonly used in this case [5] In keeping with this objective, many experimental studies have been conducted to try and identify substances that can act upon these mechanisms, leveraging the proliferation of the hepatocytes and minimizing the factors that can hinder regeneration
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