title: Liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease: a retrospective analysis of recidivism, survival and risk factors predisposing to alcohol relapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the second most common indication for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alcohol relapse rate and long-term survival after liver transplantation for ALD and to identify risk factors predisposing to alcohol relapse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2000 and 2007, 108 patients transplanted for ALD in the Ghent University Hospital were included in this retrospective analysis. Relapse was defined as any drinking after transplantation, problem drinking as more than 2 units/day for women and 3 units/day for men. A wide range of variables was obtained from a questionnaire and medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 55 months. Relapse was observed in 29%, 16% in problem drinking. The one- and five-year survival was 87% and 74% respectively. No significant difference in survival was found between non-relapsers, occasional drinkers and problem drinkers. The following risk factors were found to be significantly associated with relapse into problem drinking in an univariate analysis: a shorter pre-transplant abstinence period, the presence of a first degree relative with alcohol abuse and a higher number of prior attempts to quit. In multivariable analysis, the presence of a first degree relative with alcohol abuse was found associated with relapse into problem drinking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of a first degree relative with alcohol abuse is a valuable pre-transplant variable evaluating an ALD patient's eligibility for liver transplantation. Other variables are also helpful to outline the broader context of the drinking behavior of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Deruytter
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Steenkiste
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trépo
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geerts
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Vlierberghe
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berrevoet
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Hemptinne
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Rogiers
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troisi
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors