Abstract
BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation is the standard treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease no longer responsive to conventional medical treatment
AIMS: To report the long-term experience of liver transplantation in Italy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were obtained retrospectively by means of a multiple-item form collected from 15 Italian liver transplant centres. The filing centre was centralized.
RESULTS: A total of 3323 liver transplants were performed on 3026 patients, with a cumulative proportional survival of 72.4%. Three, 5 and 10 years' patient survival rates were 72.3%, 68.8% and 61.3%, respectively. The most common indication for liver transplantation were hepatitis B virus (+/- hepatitis D virus)- and hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis (59.4%). Excellent survival rates were observed particularly in controversial indications, such as alcoholic cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Retransplantation was required in 8.9% of the cases. The overall prevalence of acute cellular rejection episodes was 43.5%. In our study population, primary non-function and disease recurrence were the most common causes of graft failure (28.7% and 25.4%, respectively). Infections and/or sepsis were the most common causes of death after transplantation (42%).
CONCLUSION: This study confirms that patients with controversial indications to liver transplantation such as alcoholic cirrhosis, HBV-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma can achieve excellent survival when properly selected.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 640-648 |
Numero di pagine | 9 |
Rivista | Digestive and Liver Disease |
Volume | 34 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2002 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Female
- Graft Rejection
- Humans
- Italy
- Liver Diseases
- Liver Transplantation
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Patient Selection
- Prevalence
- Recurrence
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Rate