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Inferior outcomes are consistently observed for recipients of liver retransplantation (re-LT) versus recipients of primary transplants. Few studies have examined the incidence and impact of biliary complications (BCs) on outcomes after re-LT. The aim of this study was to compare patient and graft survival for re-LT recipients with BCs (BC 1 ) and re-LT recipients without BCs (BC 2 ). Additional aims were to determine the impact of biliary reconstruction on the incidence of BCs and to identify risk factors for BCs after re-LT. A single-center, retrospective analysis of all re-LT recipients over a decade was performed. Univariate analyses were performed, and survival was compared with the log-rank method. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of death and graft failure. The BC rate was 20.9% (n 5 23) for 110 re-LT cases. The average follow-up was 55 months. The survival rates for BC 2 recipients at 3 months and 1, 3, and 5 years were 95.3%, 91.7%, 85.4%, and 80.9%, respectively, whereas BC 1 patients had survival rates of 64.3%, 49.7%, 34.8%, and 29.8%, respectively (P < 0.001, log-rank). The graft survival rates at 3 months and 1, 3, and 5 years were 92.0%, 88.5%, 82.4%, and 78.0%, respectively, for the BC 2 group and 60.9%, 43.5%, 30.4%, and 26.1%, respectively, for the BC 1 group (P < 0.001, log-rank). BCs, a length of stay 12 days, and donor age were strongly associated with death and graft failure in a regression analysis, whereas retransplant indications other than chronic rejection and recurrent disease also affected graft failure. In conclusion, BCs significantly affected both patient and graft survival, with an increased risk of death and graft loss among BC 1 It has been well established that both graft survival and patient survival are inferior for multitransplant patients versus primary LT patients. A further examination of data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for the same period reveals that the graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 82.6%, 74.2%, and 56.0%, respectively, for re-LT and 92.4%, 86.1%, and 69.9%, respectively, for primary grafts. In addition, the annual death rate per 1000 patient years has been 2 to 3 times higher for recipients of multiple LT procedures versus recipients of primary transplants over the past 9 years. Numerous authors have looked at causal relationships between complications and mortality in the re-LT population.2-7 To date, however, few authors have examined the Abbreviations: BC, biliary complication; CI, confidence interval; HR, hazard ratio; LT, liver transplantation; MELD, Model for EndStage Liver Disease; re-LT, liver retransplantation.Address reprint requests to C.

Background & Aims Liver transplantation has become the standard of care treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that falls within size and numeric criteria in cirrhotic patients. Cirrhotomimetic (CMM) hepatocellular carcinoma is an uncommon growth pattern that infiltrates cirrhotic parenchyma, can become extensive in size, and can evade detection via radiologic studies. Liver transplant outcomes for this type of HCC is not well reported but generally considered to be poor. We wished to better describe this variant of HCC in explanted livers, derive a classification system for this tumor type, and assess the outcomes of liver transplantation for this tumor variant. Methods Upon retrospective analysis of all patients transplanted at a single center for HCC in 1996–2009 (358 patients) a series of 26 patients exhibiting CMM growth pattern were identified. We developed a classification system for this tumor growth pattern variant and determined patient and tumor-specific outcomes. Results We derived a classification schema of CMM HCC based upon tumor extent and cellular histopathology with clear cell pathology being associated with favorable outcome. We note a 100% 3-year and 58.3% 5-year recurrence free survival after transplant in those with tumor confined to one lobe who have clear cell pathology versus 16.2% 3- and 5-year recurrence free survival in those who do not meet these criteria. Conclusion Cirrhotomimetic HCC features are noted in 7% of patients transplanted for HCC in our center with favorable outcomes inpatients with clear cell histology and growth involving less than 50% of the liver.

HCV may lead to the development of ESLD in late childhood and, consequently, contributes to the need for liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to examine post-transplant outcomes in HCV-positive pediatric patients with ESLD from any cause and to determine the impact of the PELD scoring system, introduced in February 2002, on post-transplant patient and graft survival. A retrospective analysis of the UNOS database from 1994 to 2010 was performed to assess graft and patient survival in pediatric HCV-seropositive liver transplant recipients. Graft survival and patient survival comparing subjects in the pre-PELD era and post-PELD era were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Factors associated with survival were identified using Cox regression analysis. Of 120 pediatric HCV transplant recipients, 80 were transplanted in the pre-PELD era and 40 were transplanted post-PELD. Median serum total bilirubin, INR, and creatinine were 4.8 mg/dL, 1.6, and 0.7 mg/dL in the pre-PELD era vs. 5.5 mg/dL, 1.7, and 0.6 mg/mL, respectively, in the post-PELD era (p NS). One-yr graft survival in the pre-PELD vs. post-PELD era was 65.0% and 89.7%, respectively (p < 0.01); corresponding three-yr graft survival was 57.3% vs. 76.2% (p = 0.04). One-yr patient survival in the pre-PELD vs. post-PELD era was 79.0% and 97.5%, respectively (p < 0.01); corresponding three-yr survival was 79.0% vs. 89.4% (p = 0.17). Twenty-eight patients (23.3%) were retransplanted: 24 (30%) in the pre-PELD era (median time to retransplant 272 days) and four (10%) in the post-PELD era (median time to retransplant 586 days). Early follow-up demonstrates a trend toward improved pediatric HCV liver transplant graft and patient survival in the post-PELD era. Superior outcomes may be attributed to pretransplant factors, improved surgical technique and better treatment options for HCV infection.

HCV infection is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the adult population in the United States. HCV infection occurs in 0.2-0.4% of the pediatric population and progression to HCC is uncommon. Liver transplantation for HCV in children is rare. In this report, we present a case of pediatric patient with HCV and multifocal HCC at the age of 13 who underwent successful liver transplantation. While good graft function was initially observed, at one month after transplant, he experienced significant hepatitis C recurrence. He was treated with low-accelerating dose regimen antiviral therapy of PEG-IFN and RBV, followed by addition of a protease inhibitor, boceprevir, which led to viral clearance. To our knowledge, this is the first case report describing the post-transplant course of a child transplanted for HCV and HCC, and the first pediatric case report on using the triple therapy for management of post-liver transplant recurrence of HCV. This case report demonstrates the need for increased vigilance of surveillance for HCC during childhood.