Complications and Long-Term Outcomes in Adult Patients Undergoing Living Donor Liver Transplantation Because of Fulminant Hepatitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The present study investigates the complications that may occur during long-term follow-up in patients aged 18 years and older undergoing living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in our clinic because of fulminant hepatitis.

METHODS:

The study included patients aged 18 years and older with a minimum survival of 6 months who underwent an LDLT between June 2000 and June 2017. The demographic data of the patients were evaluated in terms of late-term complications.

RESULTS:

Of the 240 patients who met the study criteria, 8 (3.3%) underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis. The indication for transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatitis was cryptogenic liver hepatitis in 4 patients, acute hepatitis B infection in 2 patients, hemochromatosis in 1 patient, and toxic hepatitis in 1 patient. Of the 240 patients, 65 (27%) undergoing LDLT underwent a liver biopsy for suspected rejection because of an elevation in liver function test results during follow-up. Histopathologic scoring was carried out according to the Banff scoring system. A diagnosis of late acute rejection was made in only 1 of the 8 patients (12.5%) who underwent LDLT for fulminant hepatitis.

CONCLUSION:

Patients with fulminant hepatitis must be prepared for an LDLT, if available, while waiting for a cadaveric donor. The results of the present study suggest that LDLTs in patients with fulminant hepatitis are safe, and the outcomes are acceptable in terms of survival and complications.

• Authors: Mücahit Özbilgin, Tufan Egeli, Cihan Ağalar, Sevda Özkardeşler, Vildan Avkan Oğuz, Mesut Akarsu, Özgül Sağol, Tarkan Ünek, Sedat Karademir, Ibrahim Astarcıoğlu
• Journal: Transplantation proceedings (Transplant Proc) Vol. 55 Issue 5 Pg. 1186-1192 (Jun 2023) ISSN: 1873-2623 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37137763 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Humans
• Adult
• Liver Transplantation (methods)
• Living Donors
• Massive Hepatic Necrosis (etiology)
• Liver Failure (etiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome