RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Alcoholic cirrhosis is a good indication for liver transplantation, even for cases of recidivism
JF Gut
JO Gut
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
SP 421
OP 426
DO 10.1136/gut.45.3.421
VO 45
IS 3
A1 G-P Pageaux
A1 J Michel
A1 V Coste
A1 P Perney
A1 P Possoz
A1 P-F Perrigault
A1 F Navarro
A1 J-M Fabre
A1 J Domergue
A1 P Blanc
A1 D Larrey
YR 1999
UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/45/3/421.abstract
AB BACKGROUND/AIMS Alcoholic cirrhosis remains a controversial indication for liver transplantation, mainly because of ethical considerations related to the shortage of donor livers. The aim of this study was to review experience to date, focusing on survival rates and complications, and the effect of alcohol relapse on outcome and alterations in marital and socioprofessional status.METHODS The results for 53 patients transplanted for alcoholic cirrhosis between 1989 and 1994 were compared with those for 48 patients transplanted for non-alcoholic liver disease. The following variables were analysed: survival, rejection, infection, cancer, retransplantation, employment and marital status, alcoholic recurrence. The same variables were compared between alcohol relapsers and non-relapsers.RESULTS Recovery of employment was the only significantly different variable between alcoholic (30%) and non-alcoholic patients (60%). Two factors influenced survival in the absence of alcohol recidivism: age and abstinence before transplantation. For all other variables, there were no differences between alcoholic and non-alcoholic patients, and, within the alcoholic group, between relapsers and non-relapsers. The recidivism rate was 32%.CONCLUSION The data indicate that liver transplantation is justified for alcoholic cirrhosis, even in cases of recidivism, which did no affect survival and compliance with the immunosuppressive regimen. These good results should help in educating the general population about alcoholic disease.