Quality of life and problems affecting recipients more than 10 years after living donor liver transplantation

Abstract

Background: We initiated living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in 1991, allowing us to examine issues related to long-term survival. The aim of this study was to review the long-term outcomes of LDLT in children.

Patients and methods: We performed 116 LDLT from 1991 to present, including 17 recipients who survived >10 years. They were evaluated for growth, immunosuppressive therapy, complications, and quality of life (QOL).

Results: The average age at LDLT was 5.4 years (range, 6 months to 17 years), with a present average age of 17.2 years (range, 11-28 years). At the time of LDLT, 6 recipients had growth retardation with body weights low for age by 2 standard deviations (SD). However, 4 of 6 recipients who underwent LDLT before age of 2 years caught up, reaching average heights and body weights for their ages. Among 6 recipients who were diagnosed with acute rejections by biopsy >5 years after LDLT, 5 improved after steroid pulse therapy. One recipient with a steroid-resistant acute rejection was administered deoxyspergualin after steroids. Chronic rejection was not observed in this series. One recipient has not required immunosuppressive therapy for >4 years with a good present condition.

Conclusion: The majority of LDLT recipients achieved a good QOL during long-term survival; they are pursuing normal studies.