Ann Liver Transplant.  2021 May;1(1):18-23. 10.52604/alt.21.0011.

Risk factors for alcohol recidivism after liver transplantation

• Yun HJ
• Lee JG
• Kim HJ
• Han DH
• Choi GH
• Kim MS
• Choi JS
• Kim SI
• Joo DJ

• KMID: 2560849
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.52604/alt.21.0011

Abstract

Background
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has been increasing recently and the second most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in Korea. Even after LT, alcohol recidivism can be a problem interfering with the patients’ long-term survival and graft function. This study was conducted to analyze the clinical course and preand post-transplantation risk factors for alcohol recidivism in transplant recipients with ALD.
Methods
Of 592 liver transplant recipients, sixty-two patients underwent LT for ALD between Jan 2005 and Dec 2014. We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data from our electrical medical records.
Results
Out of the 62 ALD recipients, 57 patients were male. Their mean age was 52.4±8.3 years. The mean abstinence period of them before transplantation was 17.7±30.0 months. Sixteen recipients (25.8%) showed alcohol recidivism at 15.9±13.7 months after LT. Patients who showed alcohol recidivism had a significantly longer duration of drink before transplantation than non-recidivism patients (35.4±6.3 vs 30.9±9.4 years, respectively, p=0.038). In terms of alcohol consumption, the recidivism group showed more alcohol drinking than the non-recidivism group (123.0±67.2 vs 81.6±61.0 units, respectively, p=0.026). The abstinence period before LT was not significantly different. In the multivariate analysis, the amount of alcohol consumption before transplantation was considered to play a risk factor for alcohol recidivism after transplantation (p=0.05).
Conclusion
Information about duration and consumption of alcohol drink before LT helps to predict alcohol recidivism after LT in patients with ALD, allowing early awareness and specific postoperative care.

Keyword

Alcohol; Liver transplantation; Recidivism; Survival

Figure

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  Figure 1 Mean serum AST, ALT and Total bilirubin levels measured at the time of alcohol relapse in alcohol recidivism group; compared to those of non-recidivism group at 6 months after liver transplantation.

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  Figure 2 Cumulative patient survival curves of alcoholic recidivism and non-recidivism groups.

Reference

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