Hypothermic Machine Perfusion for Liver Graft Preservation (HOPE-Liver)
Prospective and Randomized Clinical Study of the Effect of Hypothermic Machine Perfusion on Liver Graft Preservation
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether hypothermic machine perfusion improves liver graft preservation and post-transplant outcomes compared to conventional static cold storage in adult patients undergoing liver transplantation. This study focuses on liver grafts from deceased donors, including those with extended criteria, which are more susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury and early graft dysfunction.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does hypothermic machine perfusion reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve early graft function after liver transplantation? Does this preservation strategy improve clinical outcomes, including graft survival, complication rates, and post-transplant recovery, compared to static cold storage?
Researchers will compare hypothermic machine perfusion (ex situ, oxygenated perfusion at low temperature) to standard static cold storage to assess differences in graft preservation quality and post-transplant outcomes.
Participants will:
Receive a liver graft preserved either by hypothermic machine perfusion or static cold storage, according to a 1:1 randomization protocol Undergo standard liver transplantation procedures Be followed after transplantation with clinical, laboratory, imaging, and biomarker assessments at predefined time points (7 days, 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year)
Additional evaluations will include biochemical markers of liver function, inflammatory and immunological mediators, mitochondrial function assessment, and histological analysis to better characterize graft injury and recovery.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Condiciones
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
This is a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the impact of hypothermic machine perfusion on liver graft preservation and post-transplant outcomes in adult liver transplantation.
Liver transplantation is the standard treatment for end-stage liver disease; however, outcomes are strongly influenced by graft quality. The increasing use of extended criteria donors has introduced additional challenges, as these grafts are more susceptible to ischemia-reperfusion injury, a key determinant of early graft dysfunction and post-transplant complications. Conventional static cold storage, although widely used, does not prevent ongoing anaerobic metabolism and progressive depletion of cellular energy stores, contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammatory activation upon reperfusion.
Hypothermic machine perfusion has emerged as an alternative preservation strategy by providing continuous oxygenated perfusion under controlled hypothermic conditions. This approach aims to preserve mitochondrial integrity, reduce metabolic stress, and mitigate ischemia-reperfusion injury, thereby potentially improving graft viability and expanding the utilization of marginal organs.
In this study, liver grafts from deceased donors will be allocated to either hypothermic machine perfusion or conventional static cold storage. Following procurement, grafts assigned to the intervention group will undergo ex situ hypothermic perfusion using an oxygenated preservation solution under controlled conditions, while the control group will follow standard institutional preservation protocols.
All transplant procedures and perioperative management will be conducted according to institutional standards. Post-transplant follow-up will include clinical and laboratory monitoring to assess graft function and detect complications.
Tipo de estudio
Inscripción (Estimado)
Fase
- No aplica
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Estudio Contacto
- Nombre: Wellington Andraus, MD, PhD
- Número de teléfono: +5511982118909
- Correo electrónico: wellington@usp.br
Copia de seguridad de contactos de estudio
- Nombre: Alexandre Santana, PhD
- Número de teléfono: +5511931002779
- Correo electrónico: alesantana@usp.br
Ubicaciones de estudio
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São Paulo
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São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil, 05403-000
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP)
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Contacto:
- Wellington Andraus, MD, PhD
- Número de teléfono: +5511982118909
- Correo electrónico: wellington@usp.br
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Contacto:
- Alexandre Santana, PhD
- Número de teléfono: +5511931002779
- Correo electrónico: alesantana@usp.br
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Investigador principal:
- Wellington Andraus, MD, PhD
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Sub-Investigador:
- Rubens Junior, MD, PhD
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Sub-Investigador:
- Alexandre Santana, PhD
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Criterios de participación
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
- Adulto
- Adulto Mayor
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
Descripción
Donor-related inclusion criteria:
- Liver donors with confirmed diagnosis of brain death.
- Extended criteria donors (ECD).
- Age ≥18 years.
- Family consent for organ donation obtained.
- Negative serology for HTLV, HIV, Chagas disease, and hepatitis B and C.
Recipient-related inclusion criteria:
- Adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing liver transplantation.
- Diagnosis of end-stage liver disease or indication for liver transplantation.
- Candidates for primary liver transplantation.
- Ability to understand and provide written informed consen
Donor-related exclusion criteria:
- Presence of moderate or severe hepatic steatosis.
- Pediatric donors.
- Donors classified as ideal, defined by the simultaneous presence of all of the following criteria: Age <35 years, Body mass index (BMI) <28 kg/m², No history of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Norepinephrine requirement <0.5 µg/kg/min, Liver enzymes (AST or ALT) ≥2 times the upper limit of normal, Intensive care unit stay ≤7 days
Recipient-related exclusion criteria:
- Complex portal vein thrombosis (grade III or IV).
- Combined or dual organ transplantation.
- Retransplantation.
- Acute liver failure.
- MELD score >30.
- History of multiple prior liver or biliary surgeries.
Plan de estudios
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
- Propósito principal: Tratamiento
- Asignación: Aleatorizado
- Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
- Enmascaramiento: Ninguno (etiqueta abierta)
Armas e Intervenciones
Grupo de participantes/brazo |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
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Experimental: Hypothermic Machine Perfusion
Liver grafts are preserved using hypothermic machine perfusion prior to transplantation.
Following procurement and an initial period of static cold storage, grafts undergo ex situ hypothermic oxygenated perfusion under controlled conditions before implantation.
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Hypothermic machine perfusion of the liver graft is performed prior to transplantation using an ex situ perfusion system under controlled conditions, in which an oxygenated perfusate is circulated through the liver graft vasculature.
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Comparador activo: Static Cold Storage
Liver grafts are preserved using conventional static cold storage according to standard institutional protocols.
Following procurement, grafts are maintained under hypothermic conditions without active perfusion or oxygenation until implantation.
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Liver graft preservation using conventional static cold storage under hypothermic conditions until transplantation.
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¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
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Incidence of Early Allograft Dysfunction (EAD)
Periodo de tiempo: Within 7 days after transplantation
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Early allograft dysfunction is defined according to established clinical criteria, including at least one of the following within the first 7 days after transplantation: total bilirubin ≥10 mg/dL on day 7, international normalized ratio (INR) ≥1.6 on day 7, or alanine or aspartate aminotransferase (ALT or AST) levels >2000 IU/L within the first 7 days.
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Within 7 days after transplantation
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Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
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Change in Liver Function Tests (AST, ALT, Total Bilirubin)
Periodo de tiempo: At 7 days, 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after transplantation
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Serial measurements of liver function parameters, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin, obtained through routine laboratory testing following liver transplantation.
Values will be analyzed over time to assess graft function and recovery.
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At 7 days, 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year after transplantation
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Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Periodo de tiempo: Within 7 days and up to 30 days after transplantation
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Occurrence of acute kidney injury following liver transplantation, defined based on changes in serum creatinine levels according to established clinical criteria.
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Within 7 days and up to 30 days after transplantation
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Incidence of Post-Reperfusion Syndrome (PRS)
Periodo de tiempo: During transplantation procedure
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Occurrence of post-reperfusion syndrome during liver transplantation, defined as a decrease in mean arterial pressure greater than 30% from baseline within the first minutes after graft reperfusion, with or without the need for increased vasopressor support.
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During transplantation procedure
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Incidence of Post-Transplant Complications
Periodo de tiempo: Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Occurrence of post-transplant complications, including biliary complications, vascular complications, infections, and acute rejection, assessed according to standard clinical definitions and severity grading systems.
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Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Graft Survival
Periodo de tiempo: Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Survival of the transplanted liver graft without the need for retransplantation
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Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Patient Survival
Periodo de tiempo: Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Survival of the transplant recipient following liver transplantation.
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Up to 1 year after transplantation
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Length of Intensive Care Unit Stay
Periodo de tiempo: From liver transplantation until intensive care unit discharge, up to 30 days
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Duration of stay in the intensive care unit following liver transplantation.
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From liver transplantation until intensive care unit discharge, up to 30 days
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Length of Hospital Stay
Periodo de tiempo: From liver transplantation until hospital discharge, up to 30 days
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Duration of hospital stay following liver transplantation.
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From liver transplantation until hospital discharge, up to 30 days
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Otras medidas de resultado
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
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Analysis of Perfusate Biomarkers
Periodo de tiempo: During machine perfusion and immediately prior to transplantation
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Assessment of biochemical and metabolic biomarkers in perfusate samples collected during hypothermic machine perfusion, aiming to evaluate graft viability and ischemia-reperfusion injury.
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During machine perfusion and immediately prior to transplantation
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Assessment of Mitochondrial Function Biomarkers (Flavin Mononucleotide, FMN)
Periodo de tiempo: During machine perfusion period
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Measurement of mitochondrial injury and function through biomarkers such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN) in perfusate and/or biological samples, as an indicator of ischemia-reperfusion injury and graft viability.
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During machine perfusion period
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Assessment of Inflammatory Biomarkers
Periodo de tiempo: During machine perfusion and within the first 7 days after transplantation
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Evaluation of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), in biological samples to characterize the inflammatory response associated with transplantation and preservation strategies.
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During machine perfusion and within the first 7 days after transplantation
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Histological Assessment of Liver Graft Injury
Periodo de tiempo: During the perioperative period, including before and after machine perfusion and prior to transplantation
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Histological evaluation of liver tissue samples to assess ischemia-reperfusion injury, inflammation, and structural integrity of the graft.
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During the perioperative period, including before and after machine perfusion and prior to transplantation
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Colaboradores e Investigadores
Patrocinador
Colaboradores
Investigadores
- Investigador principal: Wellington Andraus, MD, PhD, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP)
- Silla de estudio: Rubens Macedo Junior, MD, PhD, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP)
- Director de estudio: Alexandre Santana, PhD, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMUSP)
Publicaciones y enlaces útiles
Publicaciones Generales
- Czigany Z, Lurje I, Schmelzle M, Schoning W, Ollinger R, Raschzok N, Sauer IM, Tacke F, Strnad P, Trautwein C, Neumann UP, Fronek J, Mehrabi A, Pratschke J, Schlegel A, Lurje G. Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Marginal Liver Grafts and the Role of Hypothermic Machine Perfusion: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med. 2020 Mar 20;9(3):846. doi: 10.3390/jcm9030846.
- Patrono D, Surra A, Catalano G, Rizza G, Berchialla P, Martini S, Tandoi F, Lupo F, Mirabella S, Stratta C, Salizzoni M, Romagnoli R. Hypothermic Oxygenated Machine Perfusion of Liver Grafts from Brain-Dead Donors. Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 27;9(1):9337. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45843-3.
Fechas de registro del estudio
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Estimado)
Finalización primaria (Estimado)
Finalización del estudio (Estimado)
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
Última verificación
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- 7.497.991
- 2025/08106-0 (Otro número de subvención/financiamiento: São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP))
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
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Descripción del plan IPD
Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
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