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. 2024 Dec 16;36(3):145-151.
doi: 10.5152/tjg.2024.24464.

Liver Transplantation for Autoimmune Hepatitis: 20 Years of Tertiary Centre Experience

Osman Sağlam  1 , Muhsin Murat Muhip Harputluoğlu  2 , Yılmaz Bilgiç  3 , Sezai Yılmaz  4 , Fatma Hilal Yağın  5 , Cumali Efe  6
Affiliations

Liver Transplantation for Autoimmune Hepatitis: 20 Years of Tertiary Centre Experience

Osman Sağlam et al. Turk J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background/aims: We analyzed the frequency of complications and survival rates in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who underwent liver transplantation at a high-volume transplant center.

Materials and methods: Patients who underwent transplantation for AIH at the İnönü University Liver Transplantation Institute between January 2002 and December 2021 were included. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AIH, without concomitant chronic liver disease, were included in the study.

Results: We included 51 patients (31 female) with a median age of 38.5 years (18-65 years). The 12-month and 60-month survival rates were 86.3% and 80.9%, respectively. During a median 2.22 years follow-up, 9 patients died. Six patients died due to systemic infection, 1 due to biliary complications, and 2 patients due to graft rejection. Autoimmune hepatitis recurrence developed in 6 (11%) patients. Overall, biliary complications developed in 56% (28/51) of patients following liver transplantation, and graft rejection occurred in 22% (11/51) of patients.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the outcome of AIH following liver transplantation is good, with a survival rate of up to 80%. Posttransplant biliary complications are common; therefore, close follow-up is necessary.

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; liver transplantation; post-transplant complications.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Patient selection algorithm.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Survival of patients after liver transplantation. The 12-, 36-, and 60-month probability of survival was 86.3%, 80.9%, and 80.9%, respectively. Cumulative probabilities were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that probability of a survival was no different in those with rejection and without rejection (log-rank test, P = .336).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that probability of a survival was no different in those with rAIH and without rAIH (log-rank test, P = .311). rAIH, recurrent autoimmune hepatitis.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that probability of a survival was no different in those with biliary complications and without biliary complications (log-rank test, P = .112).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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