A FOLLOW-UP OF 53 ADULT PATIENTS ALIVE BEYOND 2 YEARS FOLLOWING LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Although hepatic transplantation is now a well-accepted treatment modality for end-stage liver diseases there are little detailed data on the clinical profile of patients who survive beyond 1 year following transplantation. The aim of this study was to develop a cross-sectional profile on 53 adults who have survived beyond 2 years following liver transplantation. These patients have been followed for a mean of 43.5 months (range 24-84) since the time of transplant. Nineteen patients had persisting liver enzyme abnormalities, 11 due to chronic viral hepatitis (seven hepatitis C virus, three hepatitis B virus), four due to biliary disease. Two had post severe rejection, one steatosis secondary to obesity while in one the aetiology was unclear. Nineteen (36%) of patients required anti-hypertensive medications. The median doses of Prednisone, Cyclosporin and Imuran were 7.5, 300 and 50 mg daily, respectively. The mean serum creatinine was 117 +/- 27 mumol/L. However 22 (41%) had an elevated serum creatinine (> 120 mumol/L) but in only seven was the serum creatinine > 150 mumol/L. Fourteen (26%) of patients were obese (body mass index > 30) whilst 46% had a higher than recommended serum cholesterol (mean level 5.6 +/- 1.5 mumol/L). There has only been one case of internal malignancy (lymphoma) although 19 patients attend regular dermatological review for skin cancer surveillance. Forty-eight patients had a Karnofsky Score > 80. In conclusion, the vast majority of these patients have excellent clinical function but some caution is required with respect to renal function, hypertension, obesity and mild hypercholesterolaemia. Persisting liver abnormalities in 37% of patients highlight the need for continued close monitoring in the long term.