[Liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis: retrospective analysis of results at a single center].
OBJECTIVE
Currently liver transplantation (LTx) is the only effective curative therapy of end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Recent data have shown a recurrence rate of up to 32%. However, many studies are based on only a small number of patients with a marginal follow-up below 10 years. It was the aim of this study to analyse survival and complication rates after LTx among 100 patients in a long-term follow-up of up to 17 years.


METHODS
Between 1989 and 2006 data of 115 patients receiving LTx for PBC at the Charité Campus Virchow were retrospectively analysed. The median age of 89 women (84%) and 17 men (16%) was 54 years (25-67).


RESULTS
Actuarial patient survival rate after 10 and 17 years was 88% and 83%. 13 patients (12%) died after a median survival time of 42 months (0.5-136). Two of these patients developed organ dysfunction due to recurrence of PBC. In addition, histological recurrence was found in 17 patients (16%) after a median time of 61 months (36-158). Survival analysis of hospital stay, preoperative Child-Pugh score, rejection episodes, PBC recurrence and retransplantation showed no significant results.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term follow-up of up to 17 years after liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis showed excellent survival rates. Both the amount and severity of postoperative complications and the preoperative Child-Pugh score did not affect the long-time survival rate significantly.
Jacob
D A
DA
Charité Campus Virchow, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Berlin. dietmar.jacob@charite.de
Neumann
U P
UP
Bahra
M
M
Langrehr
J M
JM
Neuhaus
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000453:epidemiology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome