De novo and recurrent liver disease

Abstract

Decompensated cirrhosis due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and autoimmune liver diseases (AILD) are the most common indications for liver transplantation (LT). AILD include autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). NASH and AILD share some peculiarities as they can recur in the new graft, compromising the quality of life, and graft and patient survival. De novo NASH or AIH connotes the development of these liver diseases in patients transplanted for other indications. The diagnosis of recurrent or de novo liver disease usually requires a liver biopsy aside from recurrent PSC, which can be diagnosed with compatible imaging studies and exclusion of other causes of biliary strictures. The treatment of recurrent NASH is lifestyle modifications aiming for weight loss. Recurrent and de novo AIH is usually treated with corticosteroids with or without azathioprine. Recurrent PBC should be treated with ursodeoxycholic acid. There are no proven treatment options for recurrent PSC. Patients with graft failure should be considered for repeat LT. Future investigations should use standardized diagnostic criteria for each disease, seek diagnostic biomarkers, and evaluate treatments that improve outcomes.

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; Graft survival; Liver transplantation; Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; Primary biliary cholangitis; Primary sclerosing cholangitis; Recurrent disease; Survival.