The Italian experience on paediatric liver transplantation: 1988-1999 report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease in both adult and paediatric patients. The Italian experience in paediatric liver transplantation during the period 1988-1999 is reported herein.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This report concerns 228 liver transplantations performed in 207 patients (100 male, 107 female, mean age 5.1+/-4.4 years) in 11 Italian centres. The mean waiting time on the transplantation list was 6.1+/-8.9 months and the main indications for the procedure were biliary atresia, inborn metabolic disorders, liver cirrhosis, liver neoplasms, Alagille syndrome, and fulminant hepatic failure.

RESULTS:

The cumulative survival rate was 77%, 76%, 73%, and 71% at 1, 3, 5, and 7 years. The overall prevalence of acute rejection was 54%. Survival was significantly affected by re-transplantation (p=0.0002), by United Network for Organ Sharing 4 status at transplantation (p=0.016), and, among the indications for the procedure, by fulminant hepatic failure (p=0.004). Fifty patients (24%) died during the observation period. The main causes of death were primary non-function of the graft and sepsis

CONCLUSIONS:

This study shows that liver transplantation in paediatric age, in Italy, is an effective procedure providing a 5-year survival rate comparable to that attained in the largest published series.

• Authors: M Pompili, V G Mirante, S Fagiuoli, S Beccaria, G Leandro, G L Rapaccini, A Gasbarrini, R Naccarato, L Pagliaro, M Rizzetto, G Gasbarrini, Monotematica AISF 2000-OLT Study Group
• Journal: Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (Dig Liver Dis) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 649-55 (Sep 2002) ISSN: 1590-8658 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12405252 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Cause of Death
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Graft Rejection (epidemiology)
• Humans
• Infant
• Italy (epidemiology)
• Liver Diseases (mortality, surgery)
• Liver Transplantation (mortality, statistics & numerical data)
• Male
• Prevalence
• Survival Rate