Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42544904›Full record

ArticlePediatric transplantation2026

Characterizing Early Donor-Derived cfDNA Kinetics in Stable Pediatric Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipients.

Naresh Shanmugam, Avinash Ramani, Bhavani Gunasekaran, Pavan Kumar K Bapatla, Nivethitha Jayakanthan, Ebila Yesudhasan, Mohanty Rithika, Agragesh Ramani, Anu Vasudevan, V R Jagadeesh Menon and 2 more

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Article in Pediatric transplantation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Naresh ShanmugamThe Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9644-9838
Avinash RamaniMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.
Bhavani GunasekaranMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7789-8267
Pavan Kumar K BapatlaMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2009-9450
Nivethitha JayakanthanMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2016-9796
Ebila YesudhasanMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8111-6410
Mohanty RithikaMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6133-5748
Agragesh RamaniMolecular Biology, Acrannolife Genomics Private Limited, Chennai, India.
Anu VasudevanThe Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3342-6326
V R Jagadeesh MenonThe Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2649-0058
Ashwin RammohanThe Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, India.
Mohamed RelaThe Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Centre, Chennai, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly and precise assessment of graft health is vital for pediatric liver transplant patients; however, current monitoring methods depend largely on invasive biopsies and non-specific biochemical tests. Donor-derived cell-free DNA (ddcfDNA) has emerged as a promising non-invasive biomarker for detecting graft injury, but data on its early post-transplant kinetics, baseline levels, and the influence of donor and recipient factors in stable pediatric populations remain limited.

objectiveTo prospectively characterize the early postoperative patterns of ddcfDNA and explore baseline ranges in clinically stable pediatric recipients of living donor liver transplants (LDLT), while evaluating the influence of recipient and donor demographic and clinical variables on ddcfDNA dynamics for improved non-invasive graft monitoring.

methodsIn a cohort of 22 stable pediatric LDLT recipients, ddcfDNA levels were measured longitudinally using the Trunome GrafAssure assay at postoperative days 1-2, 7, 10-14, and 30-31. Concurrent liver function tests and clinical data were also collected. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate correlations and determine the significance of the observed relationships.

resultsddcfDNA peaked on days 1-2 (~9.0%, 2.3 ng/mL), declined sharply by day 7 (~2.4%, 1.0 ng/mL), and stabilized by days 30-31 (~2.0%, 0.2 ng/mL). Liver enzymes decreased gradually. The absolute quantification values and the ddcfDNA percentage correlated with AST and ALT early post-transplant, with associations diminishing over time. Recipient and donor characteristics did not significantly affect ddcfDNA levels.

conclusiondd-cfDNA demonstrates rapid postoperative clearance and stable longitudinal trends in clinically stable pediatric liver transplant recipients. The baseline values and kinetic patterns characterized provide a preliminary reference framework for future comparative studies evaluating dd-cfDNA behavior during graft dysfunction, rejection, or other adverse events in the early postoperative and surveillance periods.

Indexed as

Cell-Free Nucleic AcidsLiver TransplantationLiving DonorsAdolescentBiomarkersChildChild, PreschoolFemaleHumansInfantKineticsLiver Function TestsMaleProspective StudiesBiomarkersCell-Free Nucleic AcidsddcfDNAearly kineticsliver function testpediatric liver transplantation

Identifiers

PMID42544904
PMCPMC13430581

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.