title: Simultaneous liver-kidney versus liver transplantation alone in patients with end-stage liver disease and kidney dysfunction not on dialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since implementation of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD), the number of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantations (SLKT) has increased in the United States. However, predictors and survival benefit of SLKT compared to liver transplantation alone (LTA) are not well defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data of patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) who had not been on dialysis while on the waiting list and underwent liver transplantation between 2002 and 2008 were analyzed. To identify predictors of undergoing SLKT versus LTA, multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to assess the association between SLKT and post-liver transplant patient and graft survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study cohort comprised 5443 patients; 262 (5%) underwent SLKT and 5181 (95%) underwent LTA. Adjusting for potential confounders, patients who underwent SLKT were 34% less likely to die after liver transplantation than those who underwent LTA (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, P = .012) and 33% less likely to have liver graft failure than those who underwent LTA (HR = 0.67, P = .010). Among those who underwent SLKT, 1-, 3-, and 5-year kidney graft survival probabilities were 88%, 80%, and 77%, respectively. Black race and diabetes were associated with a higher likelihood of SLKT versus LTA; female sex, a higher eGFR, and higher MELD score reduced the likelihood of SLKT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among those with ESLD and kidney dysfunction not on dialysis, post-liver transplant patient and liver graft survivals of patients who underwent SLKT were superior to those of patients who underwent LTA. Whether this reflects differences in the two groups that could not be adjusted in survival models or a specific effect of kidney dysfunction cannot be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. amindiko@medicine.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mindikoglu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Raufman
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Seliger
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Magder
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D015996:Survival Rate; D014850:Waiting Lists