International Liver Transplantation Society Global Census: First Look at Pediatric Liver Transplantation Activity Around the World

Abstract

Background: Over 16 000 children under the age of 15 died worldwide in 2017 because of liver disease. Pediatric liver transplantation (PLT) is currently the standard of care for these patients. The aim of this study is to describe global PLT activity and identify variations between regions.

Methods: A survey was conducted from May 2018 to August 2019 to determine the current state of PLT. Transplant centers were categorized into quintile categories according to the year they performed their first PLT. Countries were classified according to gross national income per capita.

Results: One hundred eight programs from 38 countries were included (68% response rate). 10 619 PLTs were performed within the last 5 y. High-income countries performed 4992 (46.4%) PLT, followed by upper-middle- (4704 [44·3%]) and lower-middle (993 [9·4%])-income countries. The most frequently used type of grafts worldwide are living donor grafts. A higher proportion of lower-middle-income countries (68·7%) performed ≥25 living donor liver transplants over the last 5 y compared to high-income countries (36%; P = 0.019). A greater proportion of programs from high-income countries have performed ≥25 whole liver transplants (52.4% versus 6.2%; P = 0.001) and ≥25 split/reduced liver transplants (53.2% versus 6.2%; P < 0.001) compared to lower-middle-income countries.

Conclusions: This study represents, to our knowledge, the most geographically comprehensive report on PLT activity and a first step toward global collaboration and data sharing for the greater good of children with liver disease; it is imperative that these centers share the lead in PLT.