---
title: Glucose-insulin-potassium Therapy Improves Lactic Acidosis in Liver Transplantation
nct_id: NCT03522181
overall_status: COMPLETED
phase: NA
sponsor: Central South University
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Liver Transplantation
countries: China
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03522181.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03522181"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2018-05-11
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:30:14.485Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Glucose-insulin-potassium Therapy Improves Lactic Acidosis in Liver Transplantation

**NCT ID:** [NCT03522181](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03522181)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** COMPLETED
- **Phase:** NA
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 80
- **Lead Sponsor:** Central South University
- **Conditions:** Liver Transplantation
- **Start Date:** 2016-02
- **Completion Date:** 2017-11
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2018-05-11

## Brief Summary

Lactic acidosis is a common phenomenon occurring during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), especially during the anhepatic and early postreperfusion phases. However, little drugs effectively decrease the degree of lactic acidosis when it happens. The aim of this study is to explore whether glucose-Insulin-Potassium(GIK) infusion can relieve metabolic acidosis and improve perioperative outcome in patients undergoing OLT.

## Detailed Description

Intraoperative metabolic acidosis begins soon after graft reperfusion and persists for several days. The current standard treatment for severe acidosis during OLT is NaHCO3, although it may compromise myocardial performance, exacerbate lactic acid accumulation and cause central nervous system demyelination. Surgical procedure is a primary source of endogenous lactic acid production, especially visceral ischemia originating from anhepatic stage. The present study thus hypothesized that GIK solution may improve metabolic acidosis in OLT patients through its unique effects of metabolic alleviation. Patients for orthotopic liver transplantation was enrolled and received either GIK or placebo. GIK or placebo infusion started after anesthesia induction. Intraoperative measures were mean arterial pressure, HR, arterial blood gases, lactate, glucose, Na, liver and renal function indexes. Outcome measures were time to tracheal extubation, intensive care unit, length of stay, complications, hospital length of stay, requirement for postoperative plasma transfusion, retransplantation, and perioperative mortality.

## Eligibility

- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

* patients who were to undergo OLT

Exclusion Criteria:

* diabetes mellitus, hyperkalemia on arrival (K+ \> 5.5 mEq/L) and the inability to give informed consent
```

## Arms

- **control group** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — saline
- **GIK group** (EXPERIMENTAL) — glucose-Insulin-Potassium(GIK) infusion

## Interventions

- **saline** (OTHER) — saline
- **Insulin** (OTHER)

## Primary Outcomes

- **degree of lactic acidosis** _(time frame: up to 1 weeks)_ — Blood samples for arterial blood pH, PCO2 , PO2 , base excess, hematocrit, and plasma concentrations of lactic acid and Na were analyzed

## Locations (1)

- Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.department of anesthesiology, the second xiangya hospital|changsha|hunan|china` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

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*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03522181*  
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