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Liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis: Long term follow-up and impact of disease recurrence

Bellamy, COC and DiMartini, AM and Ruppert, K and Jain, A and Dodson, F and Torbenson, M and Starzl, TE and Fung, JJ and Demetris, AJ (2001) Liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis: Long term follow-up and impact of disease recurrence. Transplantation, 72 (4). 619 - 626. ISSN 0041-1337

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Abstract

Background. Alcoholic liver disease has emerged as a leading indication for hepatic transplantation, although it is a controversial use of resources. We aimed to examine all aspects of liver transplantation associated with alcohol abuse. Methods. Retrospective cohort analysis of 123 alcoholic patients with a median of 7 years follow-up at one center. Results. In addition to alcohol, 43 (35%) patients had another possible factor contributing to cirrhosis. Actuarial patient and graft survival rates were, respectively, 84% and 81% (1 year); 72% and 66% (5 years); and 63% and 59% (7 years). After transplantation, 18 patients (15%) manifested 21 noncutaneous de novo malignancies, which is significantly more than controls (P=0.0001); upper aerodigestive squamous carcinomas were over-represented (P=0.03). Thirteen patients had definitely relapsed and three others were suspected to have relapsed. Relapse was predicted by daily ethanol consumption (P=0.0314), but not by duration of pretransplant sobriety or explant histology. No patient had alcoholic hepatitis after transplantation and neither late onset acute nor chronic rejection was significantly increased. Multiple regression analyses for predictors of graft failure identified major biliary/vascular complications (P=0.01), chronic bile duct injury on biopsy (P=0.002), and pericellular fibrosis on biopsy (P=0.05); graft viral hepatitis was marginally significant (P=0.07) on univariate analysis. Conclusions. Alcoholic liver disease is an excellent indication for liver transplantation in those without coexistent conditions. Recurrent alcoholic liver disease alone is not an important cause of graft pathology or failure. Potential recipients should be heavily screened before transplantation for coexistent conditions (e.g., hepatitis C, metabolic diseases) and other target-organ damage, especially aerodigestive malignancy, which are greater causes of morbidity and mortality than is recurrent alcohol liver disease.


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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Bellamy, COC
DiMartini, AM
Ruppert, Kruppertk@pitt.eduRUPPERTK
Jain, A
Dodson, F
Torbenson, M
Starzl, TEtes11@pitt.eduTES11
Fung, JJ
Demetris, AJ
Centers: Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute
Date: 27 August 2001
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Transplantation
Volume: 72
Number: 4
Page Range: 619 - 626
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1097/00007890-200108270-00010
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 0041-1337
Other ID: uls-drl:31735062120559, Starzl CV No. 2145
Date Deposited: 08 Apr 2010 17:36
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2019 15:55
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5531

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