Early Expression of Hepatocyte Growth Factor, Interleukin-6, and Transforming Growth Factor-β1 and -β2 in Symptomatic Infection in Patients Who Have Undergone Liver Transplantation

Although standard liver function parameters provide diagnostically valuable information on the patient's condition, they cannot be used to determine the extent of systemic infection among patients showing signs of infection after liver transplantation. Determining gene expression levels in circulating lymphocytes is a sensitive method to monitor patients' condition after liver transplantation. The expression levels of HGF, IL-6, TGF-β1, and TGF-β2 in circulating lymphocytes were not sufficiently specific to diagnose transitory postsurgical complications such as symptomatic infection.