Outcome of liver transplantation in a Hispanic population: 100 liver transplants in Puerto Ricans.
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.
Alsina
Angel E
AE
Department of Surgery, LifeLink HealthCare Institute, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida School of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA. angel.alsina@lifelinkfound.org
Torres
Esther A
EA
Antúnea
Iván
I
González
Henry
H
Bowers
Victor
V
Huang
James
J
Leone
John
J
Potter
Teresa
T
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