title: Pre-existent portal vein thrombosis in liver transplantation: influence of pre-operative disease severity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a surgical challenge in liver transplantation (LTx). In contrast to LTx in decompensated liver disease, which are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality, PVT influence on outcome is still under debate. To evaluate this influence at different stages of liver decompensation, we compared the outcome of patients suffering from PVT to patients with patent portal vein within different score ranges.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 193 LTx (24 with PVT) in our study, transplanted between 2004 and 2007 at our institution. Patients were divided into four Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score groups, and outcome was compared between PVT- and non-PVT patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In non-decompensated liver disease (MELD <15), we found a significantly decreased survival in patients suffering from PVT (one-yr survival 57% vs. 89%). By contrast, MELD score >15 (decompensated liver disease) leads to an equal or even better survival in PVT-patients compared with patients without PVT (one-yr survival 91% vs.75%), with an only slightly increased morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcome in patients with PVT seems to be dependent on pre-operative disease severity. In contrast to compensated liver disease, no influence of PVT on outcome could be found in decompensated liver disease, and should therefore not be considered as a contraindication in LTx.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie, Uniklinikum Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. axel.doenecke@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doenecke
authors.forename: T-Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuelke
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Schnitzbauer
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Schlitt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy