The heart in liver transplantation

Abstract

The heart and liver are organs that are closely related in both health and disease. Patients who undergo liver transplantation may suffer from heart disease that is: (a) related to the original cause of the liver disease such as hemochromatosis, (b) related to the liver disease itself, or (c) related to other associated conditions. Furthermore, liver transplantation is one of the most cardiovascular stressful events that a patient with cirrhosis may undergo. After liver transplantation, the progression of pre-existing or the development of new-onset cardiac disease may occur. This article reviews the relationship between the heart and liver transplantation in the pre-transplant, intra-operative, and post-transplant periods.