经肝固有动脉自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗失代偿期肝硬化的疗效及安全性

目的观察经肝固有动脉行自体骨髓间充质干细胞(BMSC)移植治疗失代偿期肝硬化的疗效及其安全性。方法将2012年6至2013年6月解放军第五三三医院肝病科收治的84例失代偿期患者随机分为移植组36例和对照组48例。对照组予以基础治疗(护肝、降黄、对症和支持治疗),移植组在基础治疗上行经肝固有动脉注入自体BMSC治疗。观察两组丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、白蛋白(Alb)、总胆红素(TBil)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、终末期肝病模型评分(MELD)的变化情况,分别在4、12、24、48周进行随访;两组肝功能指标比较用独立t检验,治疗后不同时间各肝功能指标的比较用F检验及LSD两两检验,两组之间肝癌发生率和病死率比较应用四格表χ2检验。结果治疗4周后,移植组腹水消退15例(41.7%),腹胀减轻21例(58.3%),下肢水肿减轻13例(36.1%),对照组分别为15例(31.3%)、20例(41.7%)和11例(22.9%),差异有统计学意义(χ2=8.341、12.689、9.837,P均0.05)。移植组治疗前及治疗后4、12、24、48周,ALT、Alb、TBil、PT和MELD评分,差异有统计学意义(F=6.172、9.795、10.961、11.198、19.652,P均=0.000);对照组治疗前及治疗后4、12、24、48周,ALT、Alb、TBil差异有统计学意义(F=5.594、13.664、12.612,P均=0.000),而PT和MELD评分,差异无统计学意义(F=1.698、2.652,P均0.05)。移植组与对照组相比,治疗后第4周ALT、Alb、TBil、PT差异有统计学意义(t=3.394、11.625、8.847、15.781,P均0.05),MELD差异无统计学意义(t=1.727,P0.05);治疗后第48周,ALT、Alb、TBil、PT、MELD差异有统计学意义(t=5.477、8.830、6.371、11.362、9.426,P均0.05)。随访至第48周,移植组与对照组病死率及肝癌发生率均差异无统计学意义(χ2=4.815、6.286,P均0.05)。全部患者在移植术中,移植术后近期未发生严重并发症。结论经肝固有动脉自体BMSC移植治疗失代偿期肝硬化是一种安全、有效的方法,可作为肝移植治疗的过渡或补充治疗。     

四种评分系统对乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭患者短期预后的评估价值

目的比较MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO四种评分系统预测乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)患者经过人工肝治疗短期预后的价值。方法选取2007年10月-2013年2月于天津市第二人民医院住院的乙型肝炎相关ACLF患者221例,分为存活组(139例)和死亡组(82例),测量并比较2组的TBil、血清肌酐(Cr)、国际标准化比值(INR)、血清钠(Na+)以及MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD、MESO评分值。计量资料两组间比较采用独立样本Mann-Whitney U检验或t检验,多组间比较采用KruskalWaillis H检验;计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验;受试者工作特征曲线下面积(AUC)比较采用正态Z检验。结果死亡组的年龄、TBil、INR、MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO评分均高于存活组,血清Na+水平低于存活组,差异均有统计学意义(P值均0.001)。肝衰竭晚期各评分均明显高于中期和早期(P值均0.001),肝衰竭中期各评分均高于早期(P值均0.001)。MELD、MELD-Na、i MELD及MESO评分越高,病死率越高。四种评分的最佳临界值分别为37.989、41.291、55.406和2.693。四种评分系统两两比较差异均无统计学意义(P值均0.05)。结论四种评分系统均能较好地预测乙型肝炎相关ACLF患者经过人工肝联合内科综合治疗后短期临床预后,相比之下,i MELD评分略占优势,但应用时仍应密切结合临床实际情况。     

抗病毒治疗对失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者远期预后的影响

目的探讨抗病毒治疗对失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者远期预后的影响。方法收集2009年5月-2012年5月于资阳市乐至县人民医院住院次数≥3次的失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者132例。根据治疗方法不同分为对照组(n=51)和观察组(n=81),门诊和电话随访5年,均行Child-Pugh评分和MELD评分,观察HBV DNA下降、阴转情况及肝功能指标,随访结束时对比两组临床结局。计量资料组间比较采用t检验,计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果观察组肝癌、肝移植发生率及病死率均显著低于对照组(χ2值分别为4.32、4.33、4.71,P值均0.001);观察组治疗后HBV DNA载量显著低于同组治疗前(t=20.60,P0.001);观察组治疗后HBV DNA载量显著低于对照组治疗后(t=16.40,P0.05);观察组治疗后HBV DNA累积转阴率显著高于对照组(88.89%vs 6.67%,P0.05);观察组治疗后血清白蛋白水平显著高于对照组,TBil、ALT水平显著低于对照组(t值分别为6.77、16.60、11.67,P值均0.001);与治疗前比较,两组治疗后TBil、ALT水平显著下降(观察组:t值分别为25.18、23.33,P值均0.001;对照组:t值分别为6.15、7.20,P值均0.001);观察组治疗后白蛋白水平显著上升(t=10.08,P0.001);观察组治疗后Child-Pugh评分和MELD评分均显著低于对照组(t值分别为2.27、2.24,P值均0.05);与治疗前比较,两组治疗后Child-Pugh评分和MELD评分均显著下降(观察组:t值分别为9.18、8.17,P值分别为0.001、0.03;对照组:t值分别为2.93、3.12,P值分别为0.01、0.04)。结论长期抗病毒治疗能够改善失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者远期预后,提高5年存活率。     

IL-32联合终末期肝病模型对HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭患者预后的预测价值

目的探讨IL-32联合终末期肝病模型(MELD)对HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭(HBV-ACLF)患者预后的预测价值。方法选取2015年1月-2018年12月在苏州大学附属第一医院住院的92例HBV-ACLF患者,根据确诊后3个月随访情况分为存活组(n=40)和死亡组(n=52)。采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)测定患者的血清IL-32水平。收集患者的临床资料,包括年龄、性别、合并基础疾病、主要并发症、WBC、PLT、红细胞比积(HCT)、TBil、ALT、AST、Alb、SCr、PT、INR、HBV DNA等。符合正态分布的计量资料2组间比较采用t检验,不符合正态分布的计量资料2组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验;计数资料2组间比较采用χ2检验;IL-32与其他变量进行Pearson相关性分析;采用二元logistic回归分析影响HBV-ACLF患者预后的独立危险因素;利用ROC曲线下面积(AUC)评价IL-32联合MELD评分对HBV-ACLF预后的预测价值,AUC的比较采用正态性Z检验。结果2组间HCT、PLT、TBil、SCr、PT、INR、HBV DNA、IL-32、MELD评分比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.05);IL-32与TBil(r=0.952,P<0.001)、MELD评分(r=0.850,P<0.001)均呈显著正相关;IL-32(OR=1.137,95%CI:1.040~1.243,P=0.005)和MELD评分(OR=1.055,95%CI:1.001~1.109,P=0.025)是HBV-ACLF患者死亡的独立危险因素;IL-32联合MELD评分对HBV-ACLF患者预后的预测价值最高(AUC=0.992,95%CI:0.981~1.000),优于IL-32(AUC=0.984)和MELD评分(AUC=0.877),差异均具有统计学意义(Z值分别为2.265、3.182,P值均<0.05)。结论IL-32、MELD评分均能预测HBV-ACLF患者预后,两者联合则预测价值更高。     

血浆透析滤过治疗HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭预后的影响因素分析

目的 探讨血浆透析滤过治疗HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭(ACLF)的疗效及预后的影响因素。方法 回顾性分析41例接受血浆透析滤过治疗的HBV相关ACLF患者的临床资料,根据患者的短期预后(随访3个月)分为存活组和死亡组,分析两组间的临床指标和实验室检查结果,采用卡方检验、t检验分析血浆透析滤过的疗效及影响预后的相关因素。结果 41例患者血浆透析滤过治疗前的PTA为(18.33±7.75)%、TBil为(445.66±209.67)μmol/L、MELD评分为(32.08±6.75)分,3次血浆透析滤过治疗后第3天,PTA为(29.20±15.07)%、TBil为(396.88±151.78)μmol/L、MELD评分为(29.67±7.70)分,治疗前后比较,差异有统计学意义(t值分别为-3.826、2.042、2.026,均P0.05)。存活组12例,死亡组29例。存活组患者入院时合并肝硬化比例为16.7%,低于死亡组的68.9%(χ~2=7.351,P0.05);存活组诊断为肝衰竭至行血浆透析滤过治疗的间隔时间为(2.58±0.67)d,明显短于死亡组的(6.07±4.38)d(t=-4.167,P0.05);入院时存活组合并肝性脑病比例为83.3%,死亡组比例为96.6%,差异无统计学意义(χ~2=0.672,P0.05);存活组急性肾损伤(AKI)II期及III期患者比例为8.3%,而死亡组为65.5%,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=8.711,P0.05)。存活组患者3次血浆透析滤过治疗后第3天与治疗前相比,MELD评分下降(8.33±4.19)分、PTA增加(21.72±15.62)%,而死亡组患者与治疗前相比,MELD评分增加(0.55±6.66)分、PTA增加(6.38±17.47)%,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(t值分别为4.267、-2.633,均P0.05)。结论 血浆透析滤过治疗能改善HBV相关ACLF中晚期患者的肝功能及凝血功能;治疗前具有肝硬化基础、肝衰竭病程长、AKI分期高的患者预后差;治疗72 h后,PTA、MELD评分有显著改善的患者预后佳。     

MELD评分联合中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值对HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭短期预后的预测价值

目的探讨MELD评分系统结合中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值(NLR)对预测HBV相关慢加急性肝衰竭(HBV-ACLF)短期预后的价值。方法回顾性分析2014年6月-2016年12月西南医科大学附属医院收治的133例HBV-ACLF患者,根据3个月的预后情况分为死亡组(n=72)和存活组(n=61)。在入院24 h内测定患者NLR和肝肾功能、凝血指标,并进行MELD评分。计量资料2组间比较采用t检验,多因素二分类logistic回归分析各相关因素与HBV-ACLF患者疾病转归的关系。绘制受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分析MELD评分联合NLR的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)以评价二者结合对HBV-ACLF患者短期预后的预测价值。结果死亡组年龄、TBil、血清肌酐(Cr)、PT、国际标准化比值、MELD评分、NLR均大于存活组,PTA小于存活组,差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为-5.888、-2.064、-3.707、-3.517、-3.410、-5.908、-2.830、4.169,P值均<0.05)。年龄、Cr、MELD评分与NLR为预测HBV-ACLF患者预后的危险因素[比值比(OR)分别为1.110、1.092、1.305、1.289,P值均<0.05],PTA为预测HBV-ACLF患者预后的保护因素(OR=0.872,P<0.05)。MELD评分较NLR的AUC高,分别为0.777和0.680,PTA的AUC为0.304,NLR联合MELD评分的AUC为0.843,当PTA=35%,MELD评分为23.29分,NLR为2.06时,对应的Youden指数最大,分别是0.32、0.28和0.43。当MELD评分>23.29,且NLR>2.06时,死亡概率为92.6%。结论 MELD评分联合NLR对HBVACLF患者短期预后的预测具有更好的价值。     

miR-223-3p在乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭患者中的表达及其与预后的关系

目的探讨miR-223-3p在乙型肝炎相关慢加急性肝衰竭(HBV-ACLF)患者血浆中的表达及其与预后的关系。方法采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)法检测50例HBV-ACLF、50例慢性乙型肝炎(chronic hepatitis B,CHB)患者和30名正常对照者的血浆miR-223-3p相对表达量,分析血浆miR-223-3p表达量与丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、总胆红素(TBil)、凝血酶原活动度(PTA)、MELD评分的相关性,采用方差分析或t检验和Pearson相关性分析。结果 HBV-ACLF组与CHB组、HC组比较,血浆中miR-223-3p表达量均显著升高(t=11.935、17.053,P均0.001);miR-223-3p的表达量与HBV-ACLF患者的ALT、TBil、MELD评分呈正相关(r=0.610、0.808、0.702,P均0.001),与PTA水平呈负相关(r=-0.846,P0.001)。多因素Cox模型分析结果显示,与HBV-ACLF患者死亡相关的影响因素依次为血浆miR-223-3p表达量(P=0.023)、PTA(P=0.044)和MELD评分(P=0.049)。结论血浆miR-223-3p在HBV-ACLF患者中表达水平升高与HBV-ACLF发生及预后密切相关,在HBV-ACLF诊断和预后评价中具有应用价值。     

阴虚型HBV相关原发性肝癌患者的肿瘤特征及淋巴细胞计数与生化指标的相关性分析

目的探讨阴虚型HBV相关原发性肝癌(PLC)患者的肿瘤特征及淋巴细胞计数与生化指标的相关性。方法收集2013年7月-2015年2月于首都医科大学附属北京地坛医院治疗的PLC患者148例,分为阴虚型PLC组(n=52)和非阴虚型PLC组(n=96)。收集患者的一般资料及实验室指标,包括肿瘤学指标[甲胎蛋白(AFP)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原(CA)19-9],病毒学指标(HBs Ag),肿瘤大体分型(结节型、块状型、巨块型、弥漫型),影像学特征(门静脉主干内径、门静脉癌栓、肝外转移),生化指标[终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分、白细胞(WBC)、红细胞(RBC)、血小板(PLT)、ALT、AST、TBil、GGT、ALP、白蛋白(Alb)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、凝血酶原活动度(PTA)]和淋巴细胞计数。符合正态分布的计量资料组间比较采用t检验,相关性分析采用Pearson相关分析;不符合正态分布的计量资料组间比较采用Mann-Whitney U检验,相关性分析采用Spearman相关分析。计数资料组间比较采用χ2检验。结果 2组患者的HBs Ag比较差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.658,P=0.017)。与非阴虚型PLC组相比,阴虚型PLC患者的CEA和CA19-9水平升高,2组间比较差异有统计学意义(U值分别为-2.200、-2.194,P值均0.05),MELD评分、TBil、PT升高(t=2.2、U=-2.0、U=-2.0,P值均0.05),PLT和PTA降低(U=-3.1、t=-2.5,P值均0.05),淋巴细胞、T淋巴细胞、CD8+T淋巴细胞、CD4+T淋巴细胞计数均降低(t=-2.7、U=-2.6、t=-2.2、U=-2.9,P值均0.05)。阴虚型PLC患者的CD4+T淋巴细胞计数与PLT、PTA呈正相关(r值分别为0.360、0.295,P值均0.05);CD8+T淋巴细胞计数与PLT、PTA呈正相关(r值分别为0.352、0.464,P值均0.05),与MELD评分、TBil、PT呈负相关(r值分别为-0.358、-0.378、-0.520,P值均0.05)。结论阴虚型PLC患者较其他证型肝癌患者肝脏合成功能更差、胆汁淤积更明显、免疫功能更为低下,且患者的CD4+T淋巴细胞计数越低,凝血功能越差;CD8+T淋巴细胞计数越低,凝血功能和肝脏储备功能均差。     

人工肝血浆置换联合血液滤过对妊娠中晚期重症肝病患者临床指标和生存率的影响

目的分析人工肝血浆置换(PE)联合血液滤过(HF)对妊娠中晚期重症肝病患者临床检验指标和生存率的影响。方法将本院54例妊娠中晚期重症肝病患者作为研究对象,分别为对照组给予护肝、利胆、抗感染等常规治疗,观察组在对照组治疗基础上采取人工肝PE联合HF治疗,两组各27例。比较两组患者治疗前、治疗后7d外周静脉血空腹血糖(FBG)、白蛋白(Alb)、血清肌酐(SCr)及总胆红素(TBil)等临床检验指标及急性生理与慢性健康评分Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)和终末期肝病模型(MELD)评分情况及产后6周的生存情况。结果观察组和对照组治疗后7d时FBG和Alb的水平较治疗前均明显升高(t值分别为3.24、3.19、2.35、2.17,均P0.05),而SCr和TBil的水平较治疗前均明显降低(t值分别为5.06、4.46、3.11、2.90,均P0.05),且观察组各指标的水平较对照组明显改善(t值分别为5.27、2.83、2.63、3.79,均P0.05)。观察组和对照组治疗后7d时APACHEⅡ和MELD评分较治疗前均明显降低(t值分别为9.07、8.95、2.89、3.24,均P0.05),且观察组APACHEⅡ和MELD评分较对照组均明显降低(t值分别为8.02、8.62,均P0.05)。观察组产后6周生存率较对照组明显升高(Log-rank=9.22,P0.01)。结论人工肝PE联合HF治疗可有效改善妊娠中晚期重症肝病患者的临床指标,提高其产后存活率,因此值得临床应用和推广。     

人工肝治疗重型肝炎生化指标的改善与预后的关系

目的观察非生物型人工肝治疗重型肝炎后生化指标的改善与预后的关系。方法 383例重型肝炎患者在内科综合治疗的基础上进行不同类型的非生物型人工肝治疗,观察治疗前、治疗结束时及治疗后72 h谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、总胆红素(TB)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)、白蛋白(ALB)、凝血酶原时间(PT)及K、Na、C l的改善情况,以及PT、TB改善情况与预后的关系。结果人工肝治疗结束时与治疗前ALT、TB、K、PT均明显降低(P均0.05),CHE升高(P0.05),治疗后72 h ALT、TB、CHE、Na、K、PT均有不同程度的反弹,而人工肝治疗72 h后TB不反弹组、反弹但未超过治疗前组及反弹超过治疗前组近期疗效比较(P0.05),差异均有统计学意义,人工肝治疗72 h后PT低于治疗前组近期疗效分别优于反弹但未超过治疗前组及超过治疗前组(P0.05)。结论非生物型人工肝治疗后血清生化指标有显著改善,而第1次人工肝72 h后TB及PT反弹情况与预后密切相关,可据此对人工肝治疗疗效和预后进行评估。     

Ultrasound liver elastography beyond liver fibrosis assessment

Several guidelines have indicated that liver stiffness(LS) assessed by means of shear wave elastography(SWE) can safely replace liver biopsy in several clinical scenarios, particularly in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. However, an increase of LS may be due to some other clinical conditions not related to fibrosis,such as liver inflammation, acute hepatitis, obstructive cholestasis, liver congestion, infiltrative liver diseases. This review analyzes the role that SWE can play in cases of liver congestion due to right-sided heart failure, congenital heart diseases or valvular diseases. In patients with heart failure LS seems directly influenced by central venous pressure and can be used as a prognostic marker to predict cardiac events. The potential role of LS in evaluating liver disease beyond the stage of liver fibrosis has been investigated also in the hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome(SOS) and in the Budd-Chiari syndrome. In the hepatic SOS, an increase of LS is observed some days before the clinical manifestations;therefore, it could allow an early diagnosis to timely start an effective treatment.Moreover, it has been reported that patients that were successfully treated showed a LS decrease, that reached pre-transplantation value within two to four weeks. It has been reported that, in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, LS values can be used to monitor short and long-term outcome after angioplasty.     

中国肝癌肝移植的现状与展望

肝癌行肝移植治疗的指征、效果和相关问题一直存在争论,国际上已经有数个通用的肝癌肝移植标准,如Milan标准、Pittsburgh标准、UCSF标准等等,中国的移植学家们也在纷纷探讨适合中国的肝癌肝移植标准.本文收集并分析近年来国内外的文献,结合本移植中心460例肝移植的病例,对肝癌的分期标准、晚期肝癌行肝移植的指征进行了探讨,笔者认为影响我国肝癌肝移植的主要因素有:供肝的来源、术后乙肝及肿瘤的复发及相关社会因素等.     

Recurrent nonviral liver disease following liver transplantation

Recurrent disease after liver transplantation is well recognized and remains a potential cause of premature graft loss. The rates of recurrence are difficult to establish because of the lack of consistency in diagnostic criteria and approaches to diagnosis. Owing to the fact that recurrent parenchymal disease may occur in the presence of normal liver tests, those centers that use protocol biopsies will report greater rates of recurrence. It is important to recognize that rates of recurrence vary according to indication and show little correlation with rates of graft loss from recurrent disease. Recurrance rates are greatest for primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis, and low reccurrance rates are reported for alcoholic liver disease and recurrent primary biliary cirrhosis. The impact of recurrent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is not yet clear. Patients and clinicians need to be aware of the possibility of recurrent disease in the differential diagnosis of abnormal liver tests, and management stategies may require alteration to reduce the impact of disease recurrence on outcome. Finally, an understanding of which diseases do recur after transplantation and identification of the risk factors may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms of these conditions.     

Chronic liver diseases as liver tumor precursors

Liver cancer is a major global health problem and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 75% of all liver carcinoma. HCC occurs more often in men than in women and mostly in people 50 to 60 years old. The disease is more common in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia than in North and South America and Europe. Nevertheless its incidence increased over the past 4 decades in some Western countries. Worldwide, liver carcinoma is the 5th most common cancer and 3rd most common cause of cancer mortality (behind only lung and colorectal cancer) with approximately 680,000 annual deaths. Unlike most of the other malignancies, HCC almost entirely develops in the context of inflammation and organ injury and is related to cirrhosis in about 85% of the cases. Among underlying etiologies of liver cirrhosis, most frequent are viral infection and toxic substances, mostly alcohol. The main HCC risk factor in Eastern Asia and Africa is hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis C virus infection is the main risk factor in Western countries. Hereditary hemochromatosis is not a very frequent cause of liver cirrhosis, but these patients are at higher risk for HCC compared with other etiologies of cirrhosis. Aflatoxins, cancer-causing substances made by a type of plant mold, can play a role in some countries in Asia and Africa, and can have a synergistic effect with hepatitis B infection.     

Fatty liver in liver transplantation and surgery

Steatosis of the liver is common in Western countries, affecting about 25% of donors for liver transplantation and 20% of patients undergoing liver resection. Transplantation of livers with severe steatosis (> 60%) is associated with a high risk of primary nonfunction, and these livers should not be used for organ donation. In contrast, transplantation with livers containing mild steatosis (< 30%) yields results similar to those of transplantation performed with nonfatty livers. The outcome of livers with moderate steatosis (30 to 60%) are varying, and the use of these organs depends on the existence of additional risk factors. Similarly, liver resection in patients with steatosis is associated with a risk of postoperative mortality when compared with patients with nonfatty livers (14% versus 2%). Although hepatic steatosis is an important risk factor for surgery, little is known about the mechanisms of injury. In animal experiments, steatosis is associated with decreased ATP production and a disturbance of sinusoidal flow. Further contributing factors may include Kupffer cell dysfunction and leukocyte adhesion. Fatty hepatocytes have reduced tolerance against ischemic injury with a predominant necrotic form of cell death. In addition, the ability of hepatocytes to regenerate after major tissue loss is impaired in the steatotic liver. Very few protective strategies are known. Ischemic preconditioning and intermittent clamping protect the human liver against prolonged periods of ischemia. These techniques appear to be particularly protective in the steatotic liver. New insights into the mechanisms of liver failure in steatotic organs are needed to decrease the risk of surgery and increase the pool of organ donors.     

Orthotopic liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease

Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease in the United States, but many transplant centers are unwilling to accept alcoholic patients because of their supposed potential for recidivism, poor compliance with the required immunosuppression regimen and resulting failure of the allograft. There is also concern that alcohol-induced injury in other organs will preclude a good result. From July 1, 1982, to April 30, 1988, 73 patients received orthotopic liver transplants at the University of Pittsburgh for end-stage alcoholic liver disease. Fifty-two (71%) of these were alive at 25 +/- 9 mo (mean +/- S.D.) after transplantation, when a phone survey of these patients, their wives/husbands, and their physicians was performed to evaluate their subsequent use of alcohol, current medical condition and employment. Data obtained were compared with those for nonalcoholic patients selected as transplant controls. The recidivism rate has been 11.5%, with most patients drinking only socially. Fifty-four percent of the survivors are employed, 21% classify themselves as homemakers and only 11 (21%) are unable to work. Twenty-one patients died after transplantation; the most frequent cause of death was sepsis (43%), and intraoperative death was the next most common cause (28.6%). These data demonstrate that alcoholic patients can be transplanted successfully and achieve good health not significantly different from that of individuals transplanted for other causes. Thus orthotopic liver transplantation is a therapeutic option that should be considered for individuals with end-stage alcoholic liver disease who desire such therapy.     

Adult liver transplantation for metabolic liver disease

Liver replacement provides an effective method of replacing a failing liver, and corrects the underlying defect in many metabolic conditions. Results of liver transplantation for metabolic diseases have been encouraging, with the exception of hereditary hemochromatosis, in which infectious and for which cardiac complications appear to increase posttransplant mortality. An improved understanding of the underlying genetic and molecular defect will lead to advances in medical therapy and perhaps will decrease the need for liver replacement. The prospects of gene therapy are being pursued for many metabolic disorders, however until this research leads to direct clinical application, liver transplantation remains the only effective option for many patients with metabolic liver disease.