Abstract
Background: Liver transplantation is a life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease, yet the immunological consequences of surgical trauma in these patients are not fully understood. The liver plays a central role in immune regulation, and its dysfunction in HBV-related chronic liver disease may alter the systemic stress response to surgery. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the stress response to surgical trauma of patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for HBV-related chronic liver disease in comparison to living liver donors (LLDs). Methods: This prospective study included 20 LDLT recipients with HBV infection and 20 LLDs who underwent living donor hepatectomy between August 2020 and February 2021. Specific biochemical markers (IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-22, IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, GM-CSF, GLDH, and GalactB) were measured at designated intervals: preoperative day 0 (Preop), immediately after incision (Incision), post-hepatectomy (Hepatectomy), postoperative day 0 (POD0), POD1, and POD3 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Routine hematological and biochemical parameters (WBC, HGB, PLT, RDW, MPV, PDW, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, albumin, total bilirubin, plateletcrit, phosphorus, fibrinogen, and INR) were measured regularly at five predetermined times: Preop, POD0, POD1, POD2, and POD3. Results: Prior to LDLT, LDLT recipients had significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) compared to LLDs (p < 0.05). However, following liver implantation, these cytokine levels increased significantly at POD0, POD1, and POD3 (p < 0.001). Specifically, IL-1 levels elevated from 0 in the preop period to 21.5 (97.5) in POD3, and IL-6 elevated from 0 in the preop period to 28.3 at POD3 (p = 0.056). Similarly, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels exhibited significant upward trends (p < 0.05). In contrast, cytokine levels in LLDs remained stable throughout the perioperative period, revealing no statistically significant variations (p > 0.05). Routine hematological and biochemical parameters demonstrated significant postoperative fluctuations in LDLT recipients, reflecting the metabolic and immune restoration process. Conclusions: These findings indicate that patients with HBV-related chronic liver disease exhibit a diminished stress response to trauma due to underlying immune dysregulation caused by chronic hepatic dysfunction. However, after LDLT, the stress response gradually normalizes, suggesting that liver transplantation not only restores hepatic function but also reestablishes immune homeostasis, potentially reducing infection risks and improving postoperative recovery. These findings emphasize the crucial role of the liver in regulating the body's stress response to trauma and highlight the immunological benefits of LDLT in restoring immune homeostasis.