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. 2023 May 29;12(11):3733.
doi: 10.3390/jcm12113733.

Perinatal Outcomes after Liver Transplantation: Is There a Role for Aspirin Treatment?

Gil Zeevi  1   2 , Marius Braun  2   3 , Eviatar Nesher  2   4 , Arnon Wiznitzer  1   2 , Asnat Walfisch  1   2 , Eran Hadar  1   2 , Alyssa Hochberg  1   2
Affiliations

Perinatal Outcomes after Liver Transplantation: Is There a Role for Aspirin Treatment?

Gil Zeevi et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Background: We aimed to describe perinatal outcomes and evaluate aspirin treatment effects in liver-transplanted pregnant women.

Methods: A retrospective study examining perinatal outcomes in liver transplant recipients at a single center (2016-2022). The effect of low-dose aspirin treatment on the risk of developing hypertensive disease in these patients was evaluated.

Results: Fourteen deliveries in 11 pregnant liver transplant recipients were identified. Primary liver disease was Wilson's in 50% of pregnancies. The median age was 23 years at transplant and 30 at conception. Tacrolimus was administered in all, steroids in 10 (71.43%), and aspirin (100 mg daily) in 7 (50.0%). Overall, two women (14.28%) developed preeclampsia, and one (7.14%) developed gestational hypertension. Median gestational age at delivery was 37 weeks (31-39 weeks), with six preterm births (between 31-36 weeks) and a median birthweight of 3004 g(range 1450-4100 g). None of those receiving aspirin developed hypertensive disease or suffered excessive bleeding during pregnancy, compared to two (28.57%) with pre-eclampsia in the non-aspirin group.

Conclusion: Liver-transplanted pregnant women comprise a unique and complex patient population with overall favorable pregnancy outcomes. Based on our single-center experience and due to its safety profile and potential benefit, we recommend low-dose aspirin in all liver transplanted patients during pregnancy for preeclampsia prevention. Further large prospective studies are needed to corroborate our findings.

Keywords: aspirin; liver transplantation; perinatal outcomes; pre-eclampsia; prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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