No improvement in long-term liver transplant graft survival in the last decade: an analysis of the UNOS data.

Abstract

We analyzed change in outcomes during two successive 5-year periods (period I = 1992-1996 vs period II = 1997-2002) among 35 186 deceased adult liver transplant recipients reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Registry. The 5-year graft survival was 67.4% in the first period and 67.5% in the second, though the 1-year survival had improved from 81.0 to 83.5%. Comparison of blended survival rates during the two study periods showed decreased long-term graft survival in period II, explicable by an increased number of hepatitis C virus cirrhosis (HCV) patients and an increase in patients with HCV antibodies (HCVab) during this later period. Analysis wherein these patients with HCV were excluded revealed the same long-term graft survival during both periods. Non-HCV patients who had HCVab also had worse 5-year graft survival. We conclude that hepatitis C prevented improved outcomes during period II and that improved, more effective, treatment for hepatitis C virus would have great positive impact on overall survival of liver transplant recipients.

• Authors: Y Futagawa, P I Terasaki, K Waki, J Cai, D W Gjertson
• Journal: American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (Am J Transplant) Vol. 6 Issue 6 Pg. 1398-406 (Jun 2006) ISSN: 1600-6135 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16686763 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Follow-Up Studies
• Graft Survival (physiology)
• Hepatitis C (epidemiology, mortality)
• Humans
• Liver Transplantation (mortality, physiology)
• Survival Rate
• Time Factors
• Tissue and Organ Procurement