New opportunities for transplantologists

The human liver can function fully for more than 100 years

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The conclusions obtained by American scientists based on the study of 250 thousand successful liver transplants open up new opportunities for donation. The study showed that the organs of quite elderly people — those who have lived to 70-80 years or even more — can bring huge benefits to patients and dramatically reduce the shortage of donor liver. In particular, they identified 25 bodies that have worked for a total of more than 100 years. All of them were received from elderly donors.

Researchers from At the University of Texas, we worked with a group of people whose liver functioned together for more than 100 years — this indicator was estimated as the sum of the age of the liver donor and the recipient's life expectancy after transplantation. Scientists have found out that out of more than 250 thousand cases of transplantation over the past thirty years, 25 organs have reached the age of more than 100 years.

Analyzing donor factors, recipient factors and transplant factors, scientists were able to formulate the first success criteria, according to a press release from Centurion Livers: Making It to 100 with A Transplant.

It turned out that the "liver-centenarians" were obtained from elderly donors — their average age was 85 years. For comparison, the average age of the remaining donors was approximately 38 years.

In addition, donors of the "age-related" liver had a lower incidence of diabetes and fewer infections. Studying the features of the organs, the scientists noted lower levels of transaminases, enzymes that can increase the risks of complications after transplantation. The recipients had a low MELD index, indicating the urgency of transplantation.

"Previously, we avoided using the liver of elderly people. Now, if we continue to understand their features, we will be able to open up new opportunities for transplantation," concluded co—author Kristin Hwang. Currently, the acute shortage of donor organs is not decreasing, so the results give hope to thousands waiting for transplantation.

In another study, it was previously shown that old organs can be successfully rejuvenated with senolytics. Although now it is possible that the liver may not need such procedures.

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