Nutritional aspects of liver transplantation

Most adult and pediatric liver transplantation candidates present several metabolic disturbances that lead to malnutrition. Because malnutrition may adversely affect morbidity and mortality of orthotopic liver transplantation, it is very important to carefully assess the nutritional status of the waiting list patients. Pretransplant nutritional therapy - enteral or parenteral - may positively influence liver metabolism, muscle function, and immune status. Nutrition therapy should continue in the short- and also in the long-term post-transplant periods. For malnourished patients, early post-transplant enteral or parenteral nutrition have been useful in improving nutritional status. Finally, the metabolic and nutritional care of the liver transplant donor must be considered to reduce allograft dysfunction indices. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.