Prevalence and clinical associations of posttransplant fatty liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) could recur after liver transplant in patients with preexisting NAFLD, and has recently been reported to occur after transplant in patients transplanted without preexisting NAFLD. The literature on posttransplant NAFLD is limited. We aimed to study the prevalence of posttransplant NAFLD in patients transplanted for non-NAFLD-related liver diseases.


METHODS
Thirty liver transplant recipients: 18 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), seven with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), five others, were recruited. Liver biopsies were performed in all CHB and CHC patients annually as per protocol, or when clinically indicated. All biopsies were reviewed by one hepato-histopathologist blindly to assess and stage for steatosis and steatohepatitis.


RESULTS
After a mean follow-up of 44+/-4 months, 12 (40%) and four (13%) developed posttransplant steatosis and steatohepatitis, respectively. None developed steatosis-related fibrosis or cirrhosis. Posttransplant steatohepatitis was associated with higher pretransplant body mass index (BMI) (32.3+/-3.9 vs 23.1+/-0.8, P=0.02) and higher BMI at last biopsy (32.5+/-4.3 vs 22.9+/-0.7, P=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Posttransplant steatosis is common after liver transplant even in patients transplanted for non-NAFLD-related liver diseases. However, it is mostly benign during our follow-up, with only 13% developing steatohepatitis and none with fibrosis or cirrhosis.
Lim
Lee Guan
LG
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
Cheng
Chee Leong
CL
Wee
Aileen
A
Lim
Seng Gee
SG
Lee
Yin Mei
YM
Sutedja
Dede Selamat
DS
Da Costa
Maureen
M
Prabhakaran
K
K
Wai
Chun-Tao
CT
D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors