Living donor liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis: retrospective analysis of 50 patients in a single center.

Summary Although living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is accepted as an alternative therapy for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the postoperative results are not well known. Fifty patients with PBC underwent LDLT at Tokyo University Hospital. Their clinical records were retrospectively analyzed. Postoperative death occurred in four patients within 2 months (mortality, 8%), while later death occurred in three patients. In the median follow-up period of 35 months (range 4-84 months), the 1, 3, and 5-year overall survival rates were 90%, 88%, and 80%, respectively. The laboratory data indicated that graft function was sufficient. No recurrence of PBC was confirmed. Multivariate analysis indicated that an updated Mayo score of <10 was a significantly favorable factor for short hospitalization (hazard ratio, 9.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-79.5; P = 0.03). In conclusion, LDLT provides a satisfactory long-term survival with the PBC patients.