Comparison of 1-year morbidity following liver transplant for acute alcoholic hepatitis versus alcoholic cirrhosis

Objectives: With limited data on the morbidity profile of liver transplant as therapy for alcoholic hepatitis, we compared 30-day and 1-year morbidity in liver transplant recipients with alcoholic hepatitis versus alcoholic cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 38 perioperative variables in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (n = 15) and with alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 46). Multivariable analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with outcomes. Results: Patients with alcoholic hepatitis were younger (43 vs 58 years; P =.001), with higher pretransplant Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (36 vs 29; P =.009) and worse Karnofsky scores (20 vs 50; P <.001). All patients with alcoholic hepatitis received standard criteria deceased donor grafts; however, in the alcoholic cirrhosis group, 64% received standard criteria deceased, 11% living, 11% after cardiac death, 9% extended criteria, and 2% split graft donor organ donations (P >.05). The alcoholic hepatitis group had higher degree of steatosis on explant (P <.005), and the alcoholic cirrhosis group had higher 30-day reoperation rate (P =.001); however, 1-year interventions, vascular and biliary complications, graft and patient survival, and all other variables were similar (P >.05). Rates of alcohol relapse, 1-year infection, and 1-year rejection were higher but not significant (P >.05) in the alcoholic hepatitis group. Thirty-day reoperation (odds ratio of 82.63; 95% CI, 8.02-3338.96; P =.002) and Karnofsky scores (odds ratio of 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08-1.36; P =.006) remained significant on multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Our results showed significant differences between our patient groups, including worse functional status in the alcoholic hepatitis group but significantly higher 30-day reoperation rates and more variable grafts in the alcoholic cirrhosis group, although both groups had similar overall 1-year complication and survival rates. Although not significant, patients with alcoholic hepatitis had higher alcohol relapse and 1-year infection and rejection rates. A larger cohort is necessary to confirm the strength of these findings.