Long-term results of patients undergoing liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis

Hepatology. 1999 Nov;30(5):1121-7. doi: 10.1002/hep.510300501.

Abstract

Liver transplantation is the only effective therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease due to primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). In this study, we analyzed a single center's experience with 150 consecutive PSC patients who received 174 liver allografts. Mean follow-up was 55 months. Actuarial patient survival at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years was 93.7%, 92.2%, 86.4%, and 69.8%, respectively, whereas graft survival was 83.4%, 83.4%, 79.0%, and 60. 5%, respectively. The main indication for retransplantation was hepatic artery thrombosis, and the major cause of death was severe infection. Patients with PSC had a higher incidence of acute cellular and chronic ductopenic rejection compared to a non-PSC control group. Chronic ductopenic rejection adversely affected patient and graft survival. Biliary strictures, both anastomotic and nonanastomotic, were frequent and occurred in 16.2% and 27.2% of patients, respectively. The incidence of recurrent PSC was 20%. A negative impact on patient survival was not seen in patients with either postoperative biliary strictures or recurrence of PSC. Six patients (4%) had cholangiocarcinoma and 1 patient died related to recurrence of malignant disease. Seventy-eight percent of PSC patients had associated inflammatory bowel disease, most commonly chronic ulcerative colitis, which did not adversely impact patient outcome posttransplantation. Nine patients required proctocolectomy after liver transplantation; 5 because of intractable symptoms related to inflammatory bowel disease and 4 due to the development of colorectal carcinoma/high-grade dysplasia. Our data show that liver transplantation provides excellent long-term patient and graft survival for patients with end-stage PSC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cause of Death
  • Cholangitis, Sclerosing / surgery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Rejection / epidemiology
  • Graft Survival*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Liver Transplantation* / mortality
  • Liver Transplantation* / physiology
  • Postoperative Complications / classification
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Survivors
  • Time Factors