title: Outcome of liver transplantation in a Hispanic population: 100 liver transplants in Puerto Ricans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The residents of Puerto Rico (PR) had limited access to liver transplantation (LTx) prior to 1996. LTx remains locally unavailable and success rates for LTx for patients from PR have never been published. The outcome of the first 100 LTx recipients from PR transplanted at our center is analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 consecutive patients transplanted between 3/1997 and 1/2005 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hepatitis C was the indication for LTx in 44%. Overall patient survival at 1, 3 and 5 yrs was: 94.0%, 81.4% and 75.7%, respectively, while for hepatitis C, it was 90%, 73% and 73%, respectively. At mean follow up of 44 mo., 80% of patients were alive (66% HCV were alive vs 91% non HCV, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Access to LTx in Puerto Rico has dramatically improved since 1996. The government-sponsored fund has provided access to indigent patients. Decreased survival in this minority population was not observed at 1, 3 and 5 years. Long-term survival was most affected by recurrence of HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LifeLink HealthCare Institute, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA. angel.alsina@lifelinkfound.org
authors.forename: Angel E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Alsina
authors.forename: Esther A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antúnea
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bowers
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Potter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult