Table of Contents
Liver Transplantation in Patients with Viral Hepatitis. One of the primary problems with performing liver transplantation in patients with hepatitis is recurrence of the virus after transplantation. Recurrence typically occurs with hepatitis C. Viral recurrence can also occur with hepatitis B. In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved HepaGram B, an immune globulin, to prevent recurrence of hepatitis B after transplantation. Patients need to receive HepaGram B injections on a lifelong basis.
Liver Transplantation for Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. Patients who require transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis are those who develop major complications of portal hypertension and liver failure or who have poor quality of life and short survival without the procedure. Survival rates after transplantation are excellent.
Liver Transplantation for Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis. The outlook is also good for patients who have autoimmune hepatitis who require a transplant. Survival rates are about 90% after 1 year, and 70 - 80% after 5 years. Rejection usually occurs in those patients whose immune systems are very compromised.
Liver Transplantation for Patients with Alcoholism. Liver transplantation is generally not recommended for patients with active alcohol or drug abuse addictions.
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Review Date: 11/04/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
