Ethylene glycol poisoning should not contraindicate liver donation

Abstract

As the number of patients waiting to receive transplants increases, there is a need to explore all possible donation opportunities. In this case report, we describe the transplantation of a liver from a donor who died following ethylene glycol poisoning into a female with alcoholic liver disease with cirrhosis and associated ascites. Prior donor management, including ethanol, fomepizol and haemodialysis, hastened clearance of ethylene glycol from the circulation, and following liver transplantation the recipient exhibited no adverse effects suggestive of ethylene glycol toxicity, although recipient hepatic artery dissection and thrombosis necessitated re-transplantation. Our experience suggests that donor death due to ethylene glycol intoxication should not contraindicate liver transplantation, particularly after appropriate donor management.