Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/184363
Title: A notable proportion of liver transplant candidates with alcohol-related cirrhosis can be delisted because of clinical improvement
Author: Pose, Elisa
Torrents, Abiguei
Reverter, Enric
Pérez Campuzano, Valeria
Campos Varela, Isabel
Avitabile, Emma
Gratacós Ginès, Jordi
Castellote, Jose
Castells, Lluis
Colmenero, Jordi
Tort, Jaume
Ginès i Gibert, Pere
Crespo, Gonzalo
Keywords: Cirrosi hepàtica
Trasplantament hepàtic
Consum d'alcohol
Hepatic cirrhosis
Hepatic transplantation
Drinking of alcoholic beverages
Issue Date: 18-Mar-2021
Publisher: Wiley
Abstract: Background & Aims To what extent patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis can improve until recovery from decompensation remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the probability of recovery and delisting due to improvement in patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis on the waiting list (WL) for liver transplantation (LT). Methods We conducted a registry-based, multicenter, retrospective study including all patients admitted to the LT WL in Catalonia (Spain) with the indication of alcohol-, HCV-, cholestasis- or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-related decompensated cirrhosis between January 2007 and December 2018. Competing-risk analysis was used to investigate variables associated with delisting due to improvement in patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis. Criteria for delisting after improvement were not predefined. Outcomes of patients after delisting were also studied. Results One-thousand and one patients were included, 420 (37%) with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis. Thirty-six (8.6%) patients with alcohol-related decompensated cirrhosis were delisted after improvement at a median time of 29 months after WL admission. Lower model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, higher platelets and either female sex or lower height were independently associated with delisting due to improvement, while time of abstinence did not reach statistical significance in multivariate analysis (p = 0.055). Five years after delisting, the cumulative probability of remaining free from liver-related death or LT was 76%, similar to patients with HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis delisted after improvement. Conclusions A significant proportion of LT candidates with alcohol-related cirrhosis can be delisted due to improvement, which is predicted by low MELD score and higher platelet count at WL admission. Women also have a higher probability of being delisted after improvement, partially due to reduced early access to LT for height discrepancies. Early identification of patients with potential for improvement may avoid unnecessary transplants. Lay summary Patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis can improve until being delisted in approximately 9% of cases. Low model for end-stage liver disease score and high platelet levels at admission predict delisting after improvement, and women have higher probabilities of being delisted due to improvement. Long-term outcomes after delisting are generally favorable.
Note: Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2021.02.033
It is part of: Hepatology, 2021, vol. 75, num. 2, p. 275-283
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/184363
Related resource: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2021.02.033
ISSN: 0270-9139
Appears in Collections:Articles publicats en revistes (IDIBAPS: Institut d'investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer)
Articles publicats en revistes (Medicina)
Articles publicats en revistes (Institut d'lnvestigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL))

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