Most common indications for liver transplantation in Europe

Hepatocellular carcinoma-related chronic liver disease is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in Europe, reports the most recent issue of the Journal of Hepatology.

Hepatocellular carcinoma-related chronic liver disease is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in Europe.

The ELTR database was used to evaluate outcomes and evolution over 20years.

Dr Patrizia Burra and colleagues analyzed 16,664 hepatocellular carcinoma transplanted patients according to indication for liver transplantation, as decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

These groups were compared with co-infected patients decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

The researchers noted that 5912 patients were transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma, with decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma patients who increased from 16% in 1988–1995 to 30% in 2006–2010.

In hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 1 year patient survival was 83%

Journal fo Hepatology

In hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 1, 3, 5, and 10year patient and graft survival was 83%, 78%, 75%, 68%, and 80%, 74%, 71%, 64%, respectively, significantly better than decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

The team of doctors assessed that in 2006–2010 patient and graft survival significantly improved compared to 1988–1995, both for HBV and decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

A better patient and graft survival was seen in decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma patients with hepatocellular carcinoma-DNA(−) compared to hepatocellular carcinoma-DNA(+) at the time of liver transplantation.

The researchers examined that disease recurrence, as cause of death/graft loss, was significantly reduced in recent years compared to the past.

Currently 1% for hepatocellular carcinoma, and 3% for decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dr Burra's team concludes, "Outcomes of liver transplantation for HBV have improved in recent years, with disease recurrence being no longer a significant cause of death/graft loss."

"Hepatocellular carcinoma-DNA at the time of liver transplantation seems to influence survival only in decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma patients."