Background: The shortage of organs for liver transplantation has forced transplant centers to expand the donor pool by using donors traditionally labeled as marginal. One such example is liver transplantation using a donor with HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets), a disorder of late pregnancy that involves the liver as one of the target organs.
Methods: Two patients who died from complications of HELLP syndrome were evaluated for attempted multi-organ procurement. Donor characteristics, gross and microscopic liver findings, and procurement and transplant outcomes were reviewed.
Results: One of the liver allografts was successfully transplanted; the other was not procured because of poor macroscopic appearance.
Conclusion: It is possible to successfully transplant the liver from a donor that succumbs to HELLP syndrome, provided there is adequate recovery of liver function before procurement.