title: Liver transplantation in Greek patients: epidemiological data, morbidity, and mortality of 71 patients from a single center with 6 years of mean follow-up.
abstract: Liver transplantation remains an underdeveloped technique in Greece; currently there is no information on outcomes in Greek patients. In this study, data were provided on the outcomes of liver transplantation in 71 patients with a mean follow-up of 6 (0.1 to 16) years in our center. Mean age at transplantation was 46 +/- 13 years, while the main cause for transplantation was hepatitis B (16 patients, 23%) or C (six patients, 8%) virus. In the first posttransplantation year, three patients died, while 18 (25%) required at least one hospitalization with a median stay of 30 days. At the end of follow-up, 56 patients (79%) are alive. The leading cause of death was de novo malignancies (40%), appearing at a mean of 5.2 +/- 3.3 years. Late adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapy included hypertension (42%), hyperlipidemia (24%), chronic renal failure (21%), and diabetes mellitus (24%). With the exception of diabetes, all the above abnormalities were significantly associated with cyclosporine-based but not with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimens. Relapse of primary disease in liver transplants occurred in 21 (29.6%) patients at a mean time of 1.5 +/- 1.4 years, of whom 67% were related to viral hepatitis. The quality of life (Karnofsky scale 1 to 6) was excellent in 64% of surviving patients, affordable in 21%, and poor in 15%. In conclusion, after 6 mean years, the majority of Greek liver transplant recipients conduct a normal life, although metabolic abnormalities are often observed. A national registry is needed to provide more solid evidence of outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, 114 Vassilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens 115 27, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsochatzis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskinas
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Manesis
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Archimandritis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis