Background and objective: Currently liver transplantation (LTx) is the only effective curative therapy of end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Recent data have shown a recurrence rate of up to 32%. However, many studies are based on only a small number of patients with a marginal follow-up below 10 years. It was the aim of this study to analyse survival and complication rates after LTx among 100 patients in a long-term follow-up of up to 17 years.
Patients and methods: Between 1989 and 2006 data of 115 patients receiving LTx for PBC at the Charité Campus Virchow were retrospectively analysed. The median age of 89 women (84%) and 17 men (16%) was 54 years (25-67).
Results: Actuarial patient survival rate after 10 and 17 years was 88% and 83%. 13 patients (12%) died after a median survival time of 42 months (0.5-136). Two of these patients developed organ dysfunction due to recurrence of PBC. In addition, histological recurrence was found in 17 patients (16%) after a median time of 61 months (36-158). Survival analysis of hospital stay, preoperative Child-Pugh score, rejection episodes, PBC recurrence and retransplantation showed no significant results.
Conclusion: Long-term follow-up of up to 17 years after liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis showed excellent survival rates. Both the amount and severity of postoperative complications and the preoperative Child-Pugh score did not affect the long-time survival rate significantly.