title: Outcomes after liver transplantation for combined alcohol and hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: Alcohol abuse and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are two major causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. About 10%-15% of liver transplants performed in the United States are for patients with cirrhosis due to combined alcohol and HCV infection. Data on outcomes on graft and patient survival, HCV recurrence, and relapse of alcohol use comparing transplants in hepatitis C positive drinkers compared to alcohol abuse or hepatitis C alone are conflicting in the literature. Some studies report a slightly better overall outcome in patients who were transplanted for alcoholic cirrhosis vs those transplanted for HCV alone or for combined HCV and alcohol related cirrhosis. However, some other studies do not support these observations. However, most studies are limited to a retrospective design or small sample size. Larger prospective multicenter studies are needed to better define the outcomes in hepatitis C drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Rashid Khan, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Rashid Khan, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Ashwani K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singal
authors.affiliation: Rashid Khan, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, United States.
authors.forename: Bhupinderjit S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Anand
mesh_terms: D064829:Alcohol Abstinence; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D006085:Graft Survival; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014775:Virus Activation; D014850:Waiting Lists / Q000401:mortality
keywords: Alcoholic liver disease; Graft survival; Hepatitis C virus; Liver transplantation; Mortality