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Outcomes of liver transplantation for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: A European Liver Transplant Registry study.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Little is known about outcomes of liver transplantation for patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We aimed to determine the frequency and outcomes of liver transplantation for patients with NASH in Europe and identify prognostic factors.

Methods

We analysed data from patients transplanted for end-stage liver disease between January 2002 and December 2016 using the European Liver Transplant Registry database. We compared data between patients with NASH versus other aetiologies. The principle endpoints were patient and overall allograft survival.

Results

Among 68,950 adults undergoing first liver transplantation, 4.0% were transplanted for NASH - an increase from 1.2% in 2002 to 8.4% in 2016. A greater proportion of patients transplanted for NASH (39.1%) had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than non-NASH patients (28.9%, p?<0.001). NASH was not significantly associated with survival of patients (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02, p?=?0.713) or grafts (HR 0.99; p?=?0.815) after accounting for available recipient and donor variables. Infection (24.0%) and cardio/cerebrovascular complications (5.3%) were the commonest causes of death in patients with NASH without HCC. Increasing recipient age (61-65?years: HR 2.07, p?<0.001; >65: HR 1.72, p?=?0.017), elevated model for end-stage liver disease score (>23: HR 1.48, p?=?0.048) and low (<18.5?kg/m²: HR 4.29, p?=?0.048) or high (>40?kg/m²: HR 1.96, p?=?0.012) recipient body mass index independently predicted death in patients transplanted for NASH without HCC. Data must be interpreted in the context of absent recognised confounders, such as pre-morbid metabolic risk factors.

Conclusions

The number and proportion of liver transplants performed for NASH in Europe has increased from 2002 through 2016. HCC was more common in patients transplanted with NASH. Survival of patients and grafts in patients with NASH is comparable to that of other disease indications.

Lay summary

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has increased dramatically in parallel with the worldwide increase in obesity and diabetes. Its progressive form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, is a growing indication for liver transplantation in Europe, with good overall outcomes reported. However, careful risk factor assessment is required to maintain favourable post-transplant outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

SUBMITTER: Haldar D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6656693 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the second-leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) worldwide and is projected to become the leading indication. Our study aimed to determine clinical variables that predict post-LT survival in NASH.MethodsA systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. On June 18, 2020 and April 28, 2022, Ovid MEDLINE ALL, Ovid Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. No date limits were applied. Inclusion criteria specified the type of study and our study's population/comparison and outcome/timepoints. Pediatric, animal, retransplantation-only, and studies classifying cryptogenic cirrhosis patients with body mass index (BMI) <30 as NASH were excluded. Studies with duplicate cohorts and missing information were excluded from the meta-analysis. Studies were appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This study was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42020196915).FindingsOut of 8583 studies identified, 25 studies were included in the systematic review, while 5 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Our quantitative review suggested that the following variables were predictive of post-LT NASH patient survival: recipient age, functional status, pre-LT hepatoma, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, diabetes mellitus (DM), pre-LT dialysis, hepatic encephalopathy, portal vein thrombosis, hospitalization/ICU at LT, and year of LT. Predictors of graft survival included recipient age, BMI, pre-LT dialysis, and DM. Our pooled meta-analyses included five predictors of patient survival. Increased patient mortality was associated with older recipient age (HR=2·07, 95%CI: 1·71-2·50, I2=0, τ2=0, p=0·40) and pretransplant DM (HR=1·18, 95%CI: 1·08-1·28, I2=0, τ2=0, p=0·76).InterpretationOur systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise predictive variables of mortality in LT NASH patients. Clinically, this might help to identify modifiable risk factors that can be optimized in the post-transplant setting to improve patient outcomes and optimises decision making in the resource-limited LT setting.FundingToronto General and Western Hospital Foundation.

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