Liver Transplantation for Nonviral, Nonmalignant Diseases:Problem of Recurrence

Liver transplantation has evolved rapidly from an experimental treatment to universally accepted therapy for end-stage liver disease. Indications for liver transplantation have expanded with the evolution of the procedure to include metabolic,viral, malignant, and acquired liver failure. As long-term liver transplant recipient follow-up data become available, the development of recurrent liver disease within the transplanted allograft is an increasing dilemma. The value of the transplant procedure must be assessed within the context of survival as well as the potential for recurrent disease and the associated need for re-transplantation. This study represents a compilation of data obtained from adult patients undergoing liver transplantation for nonviral, nonmalignant etiologies at the University of California San Francisco and a comparison of our data with other centers. Between February 1988 and January 1997, 654 liver transplants were performed on 623 patients. From this group, 406 recipients were identified as meeting study inclusion criteria: age above 18 years, and transplantation for a nonmalignant, nonviral etiology of liver failure. Indications for liver transplantation included primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 65), primary sclerosing cholangitis (n = 49), autoimmune hepatitis (n = 37),Budd-Chiari syndrome (n = 7), cryptogenic cirrhosis (n = 88),and alcoholic liver disease (n = 160). Mean follow-up within the diagnostic groups ranged from 4.9 to 5.6 years. Evaluation of clinical,immunosuppressive, and pathologic data for each diagnostic group was performed to determine the incidence, time to recurrence, clinical presentation, and sequelae of disease recurrence.     

肝脏良性疾病的肝移植

肝脏移植作为终末期肝病的治疗，自上个世纪80年代在欧美国家获得公认以来，已在世界各国得到迅速开展。我国自90年代后期以来，在全国掀起了第二个肝移植的热潮，迄今已完成1000余例肝移植．在围手术期处理、手术技术、介人放射、移植免疫、抗感染治疗等各个方面均获得丰富的经验．我国肝移植的效果及长期生存率亦逐步赶上国际先进水平。     

Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Five Steps to Prevent Recurrence

Liver transplantation is the best treatment of patients with unresectable early hepatocellular carcinoma, allowing disease‐free survival rates of 60–80% at 5 years. Despite these good results, some 10% of recipients experience a posttransplant HCC recurrence, which leads to death in almost all patients. Recurrence is either due to the growth of occult metastases or to the engraftment of circulating tumor cells. It can be hypothesized that strategies to decrease the engraftment of circulating tumor cells could decrease the risk of recurrence and, in addition, extend access to transplantation to patients with more advanced HCC. These potential strategies can be schematized into five steps, including (1) selecting recipients with low baseline levels of circulating HCC cells, by adding biological markers (such as alpha fetoprotein or molecular signatures) to the accepted combination of morphological criteria; (2) decreasing the perioperative release of HCC cells, with careful perioperative handling of the tumors; (3) preventing the engraftment of circulating HCC cells by decreasing liver graft ischemia‐reperfusion injury, which has been shown to promote cancer cell engraftment and growth; (4) using anticancer drugs, including mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and (5) tuning immunity toward HCC clearance.     

Patterns of Recurrence After Liver Transplantation for Nonresectable Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

Background

Surgical resection is the only curative modality for colorectal liver metastases (CLM), and the pattern of recurrences after resection affects survival. In a prospective study of liver transplantation (Lt) for nonresectable CLM we have shown a 5-year overall survival rate of 60 %, but 19 of 21 experienced recurrence. This study reports the pattern of recurrences after Lt for CLM and the effect on survival.

Methods

Characterization of metastatic lesions in a prospective study for Lt for nonresectable CLM was performed (n = 21). The study included reexamination of chest computed tomographic scans taken before Lt.

Results

At the time of first recurrence, 16 were a single site, and three were multiple sites. Thirteen of the single sites were pulmonary recurrences. The pulmonary recurrences appeared early and were slow growing, and several were accessible to surgical treatment. When chest computed tomographic scans were reexamined, seven patients had pulmonary nodules at the time of Lt without an effect on survival. There was no first single-site hepatic recurrence. Six of the seven patients who developed metastases to the transplanted liver died from metastatic disease.

Conclusions

The pulmonary recurrences after Lt for CLM were of an indolent character, even those that were present at the time of Lt. This contrasts with the finding of metastases to the transplanted liver, which was prognostically adverse. The lack of single hepatic first-site recurrences and hepatic metastases only as part of disseminated disease is different from the pattern of recurrence after liver resection. This suggests two distinct mechanisms for hepatic recurrences after resection for CLM.     

Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

Management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (OLT) is not well established. We conducted a retrospective analysis of our results in the treatment of HCC recurrence after OLT Patients. The 23 HCC recurrences developed after 182 OLT performed for HCC within Milan criteria, had an average follow-up of 60 months.

Results

The median time to recurrence was 23.4 months. Surgical resection of the recurrence was possible in 11 patients, but an R-0 resection was obtained in 8 patients. Four of these 8 patients developed another recurrence, with 3 succumbing due to tumor recurrence and 1 alive at 12 months with recurrence. The other 4 patients without recurrences, include 3 who are alive at 19, 31, and 86 months and 1 who died at 32.6 months due to hepatitis C recurrence. The 3 patients with palliative resections developed recurrences. Twelve patients were rejected for surgery: 8 were treated symptomatically, 2 with systemic chemotherapy, and 2 with everolimus and sorafenib. This last treatment was also prescribed for 2 patients after R-0 surgery who are alive at 19 and 31 months and for 1 patient after R-1 surgery who is alive at 19 months. Of 15 patients who died, 13 succumbed to HCC recurrence. The average survival from transplantation was 61.7 ± 37.5 and 48 ± 34.3 months for patients without and with recurrence, respectively (P < .001). The survival from the recurrence was significantly higher among patients with R-0 surgery: 32.3 ± 21.5 versus 11.9 ± 6.9 months (P = .006).

Conclusions

HCC recurrence after OLT of patients within Milan criteria was low but had a great impact on survival. Few cases are amenable to R-0 resection, but when possible it was associated with a significantly increased survival, although with an high incidence of a new recurrence. There is a rationale for the use of sorafenib and mammalian target of rapamycin based immunosuppression, which warrants randomized studies.     

Late Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation

Background  

Long-term survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation is affected mainly by recurrence of HCC. There is the opinion that the chance of recurrence after 2 years post-transplantation is remote, and therefore lifelong surveillance is not justified because of limited resources. The aims of the present study were to determine the rate of late HCC recurrence (≥2 years after transplantation) and to compare the long-term patient survival outcomes between cases of early recurrence (<2 years after transplantation) and late recurrence.     

乙型肝炎患者肝移植术后乙型肝炎复发的预防

目的 探索乙型肝炎DNA阳性的终末期肝病患者肝移植前快速转阴及肝移植术后复发的防治。方法 4例乙型肝炎两对半小三阳、HBV-DNA(-)的患者术前开始联合口服拉米夫定(1amivudine)及泛昔洛韦．术后3个月内治疗同前，3个月后仅口服拉米夫定维持至今；2例乙型肝炎两对半大三阳、HBV-DNA( )的患者,术前除口服拉米夫定及泛昔洛韦外，同时肌注乙肝免疫球蛋白共14d，肝移植术中无肝期快速静脉滴注15000u静脉用乙肝免疫球蛋白，术后3个月内联合口服拉米夫定及泛昔洛韦，术后3个月内治疗同前，3个月后仅口服拉米夫定维持至今。结果 1例患者术后第19天死于肺部霉菌感染,1例患者第49天死于肝动脉及门静脉栓塞；4例患者长期存活，生存时间最长的患者已接近3年，术后全部患者均未发现有乙型肝炎复发。结论 拉米夫定、乙肝免疫球蛋白及泛昔洛韦联合使用可使乙型肝炎DNA阳性的终末期肝病患者在肝移植前快速转阴，并能预防乙肝复发。     

肝移植术后乙肝复发的预防和治疗

目的 探讨乙肝相关疾病患者肝移植术后乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)再感染的防治。方法 复习有关文献并进行综述。结果 与HBV有关的急、慢性肝病是肝移植的主要适应证，但未作预防者移植后HBV再感染率可达80％～100％，对移植肝的存活和患者的生存有重大的影响。如何防治肝移植后乙型肝炎的复发，成为急需解决的问题。经过一系列的摸索，目前已有许多用于防治HBV再感染的药物，包括抗乙肝免疫球蛋白、干扰素、核苷类似物等，其各自有不同的应用特点，在单独及联合用药方面也有了新的研究进展。结论 肝移植是治疗乙肝相关疾病的有效方法，围手术期的积极药物治疗，对提高乙肝相关疾病患者肝移植的成功率至关重要。     

Liver Transplantation for Hepatitis C: Recurrence and Disease Progression in 300 Patients

The time progression of allograft damage in patients with recurrent hepatitis C after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is not precisely determined. The aim of this analysis is to study the progression of disease recurrence and its impact on patient and graft survival. Data for 300 patients who underwent OLT for hepatitis C were analyzed regarding the incidence of histological recurrence, risk factors, immunosuppressive regimen, rejection episodes, and survival. For patients with histological recurrence, the timing and risks for disease progression were analyzed. Data for 30 patients who underwent retransplantation were studied. Histological recurrence occurred in 40.3% of patients, 27.2% of whom progressed to bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis. Eighty-seven percent of the patients experienced recurrence of disease within 24 months of OLT. Patients with histological recurrence within 6 months of OLT had an increased risk for progression to cirrhosis compared with patients with recurrence later than 6 months (risk ratio, 2.3). Recurrence within 1 year was associated with decreased patient and graft survival rates at 1 and 5 years (65.1% and 56.4% versus 80.6% and 78.4%; P = .004 andP = .0008, respectively). Patients with histological recurrence had a greater incidence of acute cellular rejection, as well as multiple episodes of rejection, steroid-resistant rejections, and greater cumulative doses of corticosteroids. Histological recurrence after OLT for hepatitis C is common and usually occurs within 2 years of OLT. Early recurrence negatively affects patient and graft survival. Host factors impacting on recurrence need further study. A relation between the hepatitis C virus, allograft rejection, and immunosuppression exists and needs investigation. (Liver Transpl 2000;6:553-561.)     

Outcomes of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Non-malignant End-stage Liver Diseases

Background

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is an effective treatment for patients who have end-stage liver disease. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes of OLT in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) and non-fulminant hepatic failure (non-FHF) patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of adult patients who underwent OLT for non-malignant end-stage liver diseases between 2002 and 2011 at Siriraj Hospital was performed. All explanted liver histopathology results were reviewed. The clinical factors and overall results of OLT were analyzed.

Results

Of the 137 patients, 72 patients had non-malignant diagnoses. Eleven patients were diagnosed with FHF, whereas 61 patients were in the non-FHF group. The most common indication for liver transplantation was chronic viral hepatitis. One- and 5-year survival rates (95% confidence interval) in the FHF group were 91% (51%–99%) and 91% (51%–99%), respectively, whereas those in the non-FHF group were 74% (61%–83%) and 66% (52%–77%), respectively. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed no statistically significant difference of survival between both groups (P = .34).

Conclusions

The post-OLT outcomes in non-malignant patients were comparable between FHF and non-FHF groups in terms of survival. OLT remains the only therapeutic option for the FHF patients.     

Survival Benefit of Transplantation for Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Resection

Background

Liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be used for tumor recurrence after liver resection (LR) both for initially transplant-eligible patients as conventional salvage therapy (ST) and for non–transplant-eligible patients (beyond Milan criteria) with a goal of downstaging (DW). The aim of this study was to compare the intention-to-treat (ITT) survival rates of patients who are listed for LT, according to these two strategies.

Methods

We analyzed a prospective database of 399 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC from 2002 to 2011 to identify patients included in the waiting list for tumor recurrence. Intention-to-treat (ITT) survivals were compared with those of patients resected for HCC within and beyond Milan criteria in the same period and not included in the LT waiting list.

Results

The study group consisted of 42 patients, 28 in the ST group (within Milan) and 14 in the DW group (beyond Milan). The 5-year ITT survival rate was similar between the 2 groups, being 64% for ST and 60% for DW (P = .84). Twenty-five patients (15 ST and 10 DW) underwent LT, 13 (10 ST and 3 DW) were still awaiting LT, 4 (3 ST and 1 DW) dropped out of the waiting list because of tumor progression, and 7 (5 ST [33%] and 2 DW [20%]) had tumor recurrence. The 5-year ITT survival of ST patients was similar to that of 252 in-Milan HCC patients resected only (P = .3), whereas 5-year ITT survival of DW patients was significantly higher (P < .01) than that of 105 beyond-Milan HCC patients resected only.

Conclusions

LR seems to be a safe and effective therapy both as alternative to transplantation and as downstaging strategy for intermediate-advanced HCC. The survival benefit of salvage LT, however, seems to be higher in the 2nd than in the 1st group.     

肝癌肝移植术后复发的危险因素分析

目的探讨原发性肝癌(HCC)肝移植术后肿瘤复发或转移的危险因素。方法回顾性我院2003年4月至2007年11月期间76例HCC患者行肝移植的临床资料,根据随访期间是否有复发分为复发组(n=23)和未复发组(n=53),总结肿瘤复发的特点。结果 76例患者中23例(30.3%)术后复发。单因素分析显示患者性别(P=0.449)、年龄(P=0.091)、术前是否治疗(P=0.958)、肿瘤数目(P=0.212)和是否伴有HBV/HCV感染(P=0.220)与肿瘤的复发无关,而肿瘤包膜完整性(P=0.009)、肿瘤分期(P=0.002)、肿瘤直径(P<0.001)、血管侵犯(P<0.001)以及术前AFP水平(P=0.044)与肿瘤的复发有关,其中肿瘤直径<5.0 cm(P=0.001)和术后2个月AFP水平恢复正常者(P<0.001)1年复发率更低。多因素分析显示肿瘤直径(P=0.001,OR=6.456,95%CI为2.356～17.680)、血管侵犯(P=0.030,OR=10.653,95%CI为1.248～90.910)以及术前AFP水平(P=0.017,OR=2.601,95%CI为2.196～5.658)是肝移植术后肿瘤复发的独立危险因素。结论对于肿瘤直径>5.0 cm、伴有血管侵犯以及术前AFP水平≥400μg/L尤其术后2个月AFP水平仍高于正常者术后需加强监测,必要时尽早给予抗肿瘤治疗。     

Better Selection Criteria With Prognostic Factors for Liver Transplantation

Background

Liver transplantation has evolved significantly in recent years, with each advancement part of the effort toward increasing patient and graft survival as well as quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and selection criteria for liver transplantation.

Risk-Based Long-Term Screening for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence After Living Donor Liver Transplantation

Background

This study sought to establish an actual risk-based long-term screening protocol for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods

The study was a retrospective review of medical records from 334 HCC patients who underwent primary living donor OLT and followed up for at least 5 years.

Results

Overall 10-year patient survival rate was 67.5%, with a 4.8% perioperative mortality. HCC recurred in 68/318 (21.4%) surviving patients over a mean follow-up of 77 months. HCC recurrence was 20.7% at 5 and 22.2% at 10 years. Annual recurrence rates were 11.4%, 6.6%, and 2.0% during the first, second, and third years, respectively. Among patients within Milan criteria, the annual incidence of HCC recurrence was highest during the first 3 years; thereafter only 6 sporadic recurrences were observed during next 8 years. Among subjects beyond Milan criteria, recurrence was common during, but not after 3 years. In 43 patients (63.2%) increased alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was an initial indication to perform further imaging studies to diagnosis recurrence, whereas they were detected incidentally on protocol screening imaging among another 25 patients (36.8%) in the absence of an AFP rise. There was a close correlation between pretransplant AFP level and AFP increase after HCC recurrence.

Conclusions

Patients beyond the Milan criteria require frequent tumor marker tests and imaging studies over the first 3 years; and those within Milan criteria require 10-years to follow-up primarily with tumor marker tests.     

终末期肝病行肝移植治疗的适应证选择

终末期肝病一般指经内外科无法治愈的各种急性、慢性、先天性和代谢性肝病。自１９６３年３月１日美国Ｓｔａｒｚｌ首例原位肝移植（ｏｒｔｈｏｔｏｐｉｃ　ｌｉｖｅｒ　ｔｒａｎｓｐｌａｎｔａｔｉｏｎ,　ＯＬＴ）问世以来,经过近４０年的发展,其手术死亡率已降至１０％以下,移植年成活率超过８０％,５年成活率可达７５％,术后生活质量大大改善。ＯＬＴ已成为治疗终末期肝病最确切又根本的治疗手段。我院自１９７７年首例ＯＬＴ以来,累计病例数超过１５０例,目前正以每年超过５０例的速度发展,术后一年生存率（良性终末期肝病）达…     

Fulminant Liver Failure After Vancomycin in a Sulfasalazine-Induced DRESS Syndrome: Fatal Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

DRESS syndrome (drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) is a rare drug hypersensitivity reaction with a significant mortality. We describe a 60-year-old man with polyarthritis treated with sulfasalazine who developed DRESS and fulminant liver failure after additional vancomycin treatment. Liver histology revealed infiltration of granzymeB+ CD3+ lymphocytes in close proximity to apoptotic hepatocytes. After a superurgent liver transplantation and initial recovery, the patient developed recurrent generalized exanthema and eosinophilia, but only moderate hepatitis. Histology showed infiltration of FasL+ lymphocytes and eosinophils in the transplanted liver. Treatment with high-dose methylprednisolone was unsuccessful. Postmortem examination revealed extensive necrosis of the liver transplant. This case report illustrates that patients with DRESS may develop fulminant liver failure and that DRESS recurrence can recur in the transplanted liver. Histological and immunological investigations suggest an important role of granzymeB and FasL mediated cell death in DRESS associated hepatitis.     

Inflammatory Bowel Disease After Liver Transplantation: Risk Factors for Recurrence and De Novo Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and can recur or develop de novo after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and severity of IBD after liver transplantation and to perform a multivariate analysis for possible risk factors. In this retrospective study, 91 patients transplanted for PSC or AIH, without prior colectomy, were included. Sixty patients were transplanted for PSC, 31 for AIH. IBD activity before and after OLT and other possible risk factors were analysed in a multivariate model. Forty-nine patients (54%) had IBD before OLT. Forty patients (44%) had active IBD after transplantation: recurrence in 32 and de novo in 8. Cumulative risk for IBD after OLT was 15, 39 and 54% after 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. In 59% of patients with IBD prior to OLT the disease was more active after transplantation. Risk factors for recurrent disease were: symptoms at time of OLT, short interval of IBD before OLT and use of tacrolimus. 5-aminosalicylates were protective. A cytomegalovirus positive donor/negative recipient combination increased the risk for de novo IBD.