Assessment of Nutritional Status in Organ Transplant: Is Transthyretin a Reliable Indicator?
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        Comasia A. Raguso
        
 , Laurence Genton , Yves M. Dupertuis and Claude Pichard 
Abstract
Transthyretin has been proposed as a nutritional index to screen for malnutrition and monitor the metabolic response to dietary intervention. In the presence of inflammation, circulating transthyretin levels drop regardless of optimal caloric intake. In this case, due to its rapid turnover, the pattern of transthyretin, monitored by means of repeated measures, could indicate the metabolic status (catabolism vs. anabolism).
The aim of this review is to investigate the possible role of transthyretin as a nutritional parameter in organ transplantation. The literature on nutritional assessment in transplantation was reviewed and all the data regarding circulating transthyretin levels were analyzed. It appears that, on the one hand, the transthyretin level reflects closely dietary manipulations; on the other hand, it is affected by the inflammatory status. Consequently, interpretation could be difficult during the acute phase immediately after the transplant. Moreover, the role of transthyretin in monitoring the hepatic synthetic function in liver transplant is discussed.
In conclusion, transthyretin is a reliable indicator of nutritional status in transplant candidates and potentially useful in the post-transplant phase if the inflammatory status is taken into account.
Copyright © 2002 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Author Index
 - Subject Index
 - Contents
 - Historical Aspects and Perspectives in Transthyretin Research
 - Transthyretin from Discovery to Now
 - The Evolution of Transthyretin Synthesis in Vertebrate Liver, in Primitive Eukaryotes and in Bacteria
 - The Evolution of Transthyretin Synthesis in the Choroid Plexus
 - Hepatic Synthesis, Maturation and Complex Formation between Retinol-Binding Protein and Transthyretin
 - Synthesis and Structural Analysis of the N-Terminal Domain of the Thyroid Hormone-Binding Protein Transthyretin
 - Three-Dimensional Structure of the Transthyretin-Retinol-Binding Protein Complex
 - Mechanisms of Molecular Recognition: Crystal Structure Analysis of Human and Rat Transthyretin Inhibitor Complexes
 - Transthyretin in Fish: State of the Art
 - The Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Thyroid Hormone Binding to Xenopus laevis Transthyretin and Thyroid Hormone Receptor
 - Clinical Picture and Outcome of Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) in Japanese Patients
 - Laboratory Assessment of Transthyretin Amyloidosis
 - Amyloid: Morphology and Toxicity
 - Historical Overview of Analytical Methods for the Measurement of Transthyretin
 - Nutritional Regulation of Visceral Markers in Rat Liver and Cultured Hepatoma Cells
 - Significance of Transthyretin in Protein Metabolism
 - Transthyretin as a Thyroid Hormone Carrier: Function Revisited
 - The Molar Ratio of Retinol-Binding Protein to Transthyretin in the Assessment of Vitamin A Status in Adults. Proposal of a Cut-off Point
 - Observations with Regard to the National Kidney Foundation K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines Concerning Serum Transthyretin in Chronic Renal Failure
 - Metabolism and Clinical Interest of Serum Transthyretin (Prealbumin) in Dialysis Patients
 - Protein Status in Pancreatitis – Transthyretin Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Malnutrition in Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
 - Assessment of Nutritional Status in Organ Transplant: Is Transthyretin a Reliable Indicator?
 - Body Composition and Nutritional Parameters in HIV and AIDS Patients
 - C-Reactive Protein to Transthyretin Ratio for the Early Diagnosis and Follow-up of Postoperative Infection
 - The Prognostic Value of Nutritional and Inflammatory Indices in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure
 - Transthyretin: Its Response to Malnutrition and Stress Injury. Clinical Usefulness and Economic Implications
 - Transthyretin Measurement as a Screening Tool for Protein Calorie Malnutrition in Emergency Hospital Admissions
 - Outcomes of Continuous Process Improvement of a Nutritional Care Program Incorporating TTR Measurement
 - The Role of Visceral Protein Markers in Protein Calorie Malnutrition
 - Acknowledgement
 - Meetings
 
Articles in the same Issue
- Author Index
 - Subject Index
 - Contents
 - Historical Aspects and Perspectives in Transthyretin Research
 - Transthyretin from Discovery to Now
 - The Evolution of Transthyretin Synthesis in Vertebrate Liver, in Primitive Eukaryotes and in Bacteria
 - The Evolution of Transthyretin Synthesis in the Choroid Plexus
 - Hepatic Synthesis, Maturation and Complex Formation between Retinol-Binding Protein and Transthyretin
 - Synthesis and Structural Analysis of the N-Terminal Domain of the Thyroid Hormone-Binding Protein Transthyretin
 - Three-Dimensional Structure of the Transthyretin-Retinol-Binding Protein Complex
 - Mechanisms of Molecular Recognition: Crystal Structure Analysis of Human and Rat Transthyretin Inhibitor Complexes
 - Transthyretin in Fish: State of the Art
 - The Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals on Thyroid Hormone Binding to Xenopus laevis Transthyretin and Thyroid Hormone Receptor
 - Clinical Picture and Outcome of Transthyretin-Related Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) in Japanese Patients
 - Laboratory Assessment of Transthyretin Amyloidosis
 - Amyloid: Morphology and Toxicity
 - Historical Overview of Analytical Methods for the Measurement of Transthyretin
 - Nutritional Regulation of Visceral Markers in Rat Liver and Cultured Hepatoma Cells
 - Significance of Transthyretin in Protein Metabolism
 - Transthyretin as a Thyroid Hormone Carrier: Function Revisited
 - The Molar Ratio of Retinol-Binding Protein to Transthyretin in the Assessment of Vitamin A Status in Adults. Proposal of a Cut-off Point
 - Observations with Regard to the National Kidney Foundation K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines Concerning Serum Transthyretin in Chronic Renal Failure
 - Metabolism and Clinical Interest of Serum Transthyretin (Prealbumin) in Dialysis Patients
 - Protein Status in Pancreatitis – Transthyretin Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Malnutrition in Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis
 - Assessment of Nutritional Status in Organ Transplant: Is Transthyretin a Reliable Indicator?
 - Body Composition and Nutritional Parameters in HIV and AIDS Patients
 - C-Reactive Protein to Transthyretin Ratio for the Early Diagnosis and Follow-up of Postoperative Infection
 - The Prognostic Value of Nutritional and Inflammatory Indices in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure
 - Transthyretin: Its Response to Malnutrition and Stress Injury. Clinical Usefulness and Economic Implications
 - Transthyretin Measurement as a Screening Tool for Protein Calorie Malnutrition in Emergency Hospital Admissions
 - Outcomes of Continuous Process Improvement of a Nutritional Care Program Incorporating TTR Measurement
 - The Role of Visceral Protein Markers in Protein Calorie Malnutrition
 - Acknowledgement
 - Meetings