Living donor liver transplantation: where do we stand and where are we going?

Liver transplantation (LT) remains a lifesaving therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease, but the shortage of graft donor (deceased donor) limits development of LT. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is the only alternative to deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT), but LDLT requires more sophisticated surgical techniques. In addition, LDLT does not have the advantage in their survival in response to immunosuppressive therapies. In this paper, we reviewed recent development of LDLT in China mainland, especially surgical technique and immune therapy.