Liver Regeneration and Splenic Enlargement in Donors after Living-Donor Liver Transplantation

Liver regeneration after donor hepactectomy offers a unique insight into the process of liver regeneration in normal livers. As the liver restores itself, concurrent splenic enlargement occurs. There are many theories about why this phenomenon takes place: some investigators have proposed a relative portal hypertension that leads to splenic congestion or, perhaps, the presence of a common growth factor that induces both the liver and spleen to enlarge. Between the months of June 2001 and May 2004, 112 live donor liver transplants (LDLTs) were performed in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The total number of donor hepatectomies performed during this period was 113, however, because one of the cases required dual donors. Of our 113 donors, we eventually analyzed the data of 109; 4 patients were lost to follow-up 6 months later and were excluded from our study. The average age of our donor population was 32.32 ± 8.48 years. The mean liver volume at donation was noted to be 1207.72 ± 219.95 cm³, and 6 months later, it was 1027.18 ± 202.41 cm³. Expressed as a percentage of the original volume, the mean liver volume 6 months after hepatectomy was 90.70% ± 12.47% in this series. For right graft donors, mean liver volume after 6 months was 89.68% ± 12.37% of the original liver volume, whereas that for left graft donors was 91.99% ± 12.6%. Only 26 of the 109 (23.85%) donors were able to achieve full regeneration 6 months post-donation. Notably, liver function profiles of all donors were normal when measured 6 months after operation. The average splenic volume at donation as measured by computed tomography (CT) volumetry was 159 ± 58 cm³, and the splenic volume 6 months post-donation was 213 ± 85 cm³. There was a mean increment in splenic volume of 35% ± 28% 6 months after donation. The blood profiles of the donors were monitored; particular attention was given to platelet levels and liver function tests, and these were found to be within normal limits 6 months after operation. Of note, splenic enlargement was significantly greater among right-sided donors than their left-sided counterparts. Greater splenic enlargement was also observed in those donors who achieved full liver regeneration at their evaluation 6 months postoperatively than in those who did not. Although original liver volume was not re-established in most patients 6 months after liver donation, there seemed to have been no untoward effects to the donor. The factors that affect liver regeneration are complex and myriad. Although there is splenic enlargement at 6 months post-donation in donors of LDLT, there are no untoward effects of this enlargement.