Clinical-epidemiological characterization of patients undergoing liver transplantation for alcoholic cirrhosis at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín between 2004 and 2015

Abstract

Introduction. Alcohol has been associated with more than 60 different diseases and is the third most common risk factor related to death and disability throughout the world. Alcoholic liver disease is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease in Western countries. The main objective of this study was to characterize adult patients with orthotopic liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis at the Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital in Medellín between 2004 to 2015. Methodology. Observational retrospective study. We reviewed clinical records of all patients with orthotopic liver transplant due to alcoholic cirrhosis at the HPTU between 2004 and 2015, and retrieved demographic data, comorbidities, complications, consumption relapse and survival. Results. We analyzed 59 patients, 91.5% were male, 82.6% had an abstinence period previous to liver transplant equal or greater to six months, 10.2% were part of an addiction program, and 30% had psychiatric morbidities, mainly depression. We identified 6 patients with heavy alcoholic relapse after transplantation, this subgroup was characterized by a high mortality (66%), poor adherence to immunosuppressive therapy and high rates of depression (83%). In general, this cohort had a 5- and 10-year survival of 60.8% and 20.1%, respectively. Conclusions. The epidemiological characteristics of the population are shared with previous reports regarding the predominance of males and adults in the sixth decade of life. Relapse into heavy alcohol consumption is not the rule, however, it is associated with discontinuation of immunosuppressive treatment and death. In comparison with other reports, we have higher complications and mortality rates at 5 five years.