BACKGROUNDBiliary cast syndrome (BCS) was a postoperative complication of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and the reason for BSC was considered to relate with ischemic type biliary lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between BCS following OLT and the hepatic artery resistance index (HARI), and to observe pathological changes and morphology of biliary casts.

METHODSTotally, 18 patients were diagnosed with BCS by cholangiography following OLT using choledochoscope or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In addition, 36 patients who did not present with BCS in the corresponding period had detectable postoperative HARI on weeks 1, 2, 3 shown by color Doppler flow imaging. The compositions of biliary casts were analyzed by pathological examination and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSHARI values of the BCS group were significantly decreased as compared with the non-BCS group on postoperative weeks 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Odds ratio (OR) analysis of HARI 1, HARI 2, HARI 3 following the operation was >1 (OR = 1.300; 1.223; and 1.889, respectively). The OR of HARI 3 was statistically significant (OR = 1.889; 95% confidence interval = 1.166-7.490; P = 0.024). The compositions of biliary casts were different when bile duct stones were present. Furthermore, vascular epithelial cells were found by pathological examination in biliary casts.

CONCLUSIONSHARI may possibly serve as an independent risk factor and early predictive factor of BCS. Components and formation of biliary casts and bile duct stones are different.