List For Liver Transplantation Research Articles

Dropout rate from the liver transplant waiting list because of hepatocellular carcinoma progression in hepatitis C virus-infected patients treated with direct-acting antivirals.

Concerns about an increased hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence rate following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients with cirrhosis with a prior complete oncological response have been raised. Data regarding the impact of HCV treatment with DAAs on wait-list dropout rates in patients with active HCC and HCV-related cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation (LT) are lacking. HCV-HCC patients listed for LT between January 2015 and May 2016 at Padua Liver Transplant Center were considered eligible for the study. After enrollment, patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on whether they underwent DAA treatment while awaiting LT or not. For each patient clinical, serological, and virological data were collected. HCC characteristics were radiologically evaluated at baseline and during follow-up (FU). For transplanted patients, pathological assessment of the explants was performed and recurrence rates were calculated. A total of 23 patients treated with DAAs and 23 controls were enrolled. HCC characteristics at time of LT listing were comparable between the 2 groups. Median FU was 10 and 7 months, respectively, during which 2/23 (8.7%) and 1/23 (4.3%) dropout events due to HCC progression were registered (P = 0.90). No significant differences in terms of radiological progression were highlighted (P = 0.16). A total of 9 out of 23 (39%) patients and 14 out of 23 (61%) controls underwent LT, and histopathological analysis showed no differences in terms of median number and total tumor volume of HCC nodules, tumor differentiation, or microvascular invasion. During post-LT FU, 1/8 (12.5%) DAA-treated patient and 1/12 (8.3%) control patient experienced HCC recurrence (P = 0.60). In conclusion, viral eradication does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of dropout due to neoplastic progression in HCV-HCC patients awaiting LT. Liver Transplantation 23 1103-1112 2017 AASLD.

Perception of the Liver Allocation System by Different Stakeholders

The German Transplant Law is the legal basis of the liver allocation system in Germany and is specified by the guidelines of the German Medical Association. These guidelines are based on current medical knowledge. The procedure of developing these guidelines was formalised and made transparent.This survey with 502 participants examines how four current aspects of the allocation system are perceived by different stakeholders (medical staff, patients on the liver transplant list or already transplanted, medical students and non-medical university personnel and students). A great majority of respondents considered the current organ allocation system to be fair. Physicians were given a great say on allocation rules. Most respondents assessed the chances of a patient on the transplant list to receive a donor organ over time as being worse than it really was. The respondents supported six month alcohol abstinence before patients with alcohol-related liver cirrhosis are listed for liver transplantation. The findings suggest that people trust that physicians develop fair allocation rules and appreciate the current liver allocation system.

Higher MELD score increases the overall cost on the waiting list for liver transplantation: a micro-costing analysis based study.

The pre-transplant period is complex and includes lots of procedures. The severity of liver disease predisposes to a high number of hospitalizations and high costs procedures. Economic evaluation studies are important tools to handle costs on the waiting list for liver transplantation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the total cost of the patient on the waiting list for liver transplantation and the main resources related to higher costs. A cost study in a cohort of 482 patients registered on waiting list for liver transplantation was carried out. In 24 months follow-up, we evaluated all costs of materials, medicines, consultations, procedures, hospital admissions, laboratorial tests and image exams, hemocomponents replacements, and nutrition. The total amount of each resource or component used was aggregated and multiplied by the unitary cost, and thus individual cost for each patient was obtained. The total expenditure of the 482 patients was US$ 6,064,986.51. Outpatient and impatient costs correspond to 32.4% of total cost (US$ 1,965,045.52) and 67.6% (US$ 4,099,940.99) respectively. Main cost drivers in outpatient were: medicines (44.31%), laboratorial tests and image exams (31.68%). Main cost drivers regarding hospitalizations were: medicines (35.20%), bed use in ward and ICU (26.38%) and laboratorial tests (13.72%). Patients with MELD score between 25-30 were the most expensive on the waiting list (US$ 16,686.74 ± 16,105.02) and the less expensive were those with MELD below 17 (US$ 5,703.22 ± 9,318.68). Total costs on the waiting list for liver transplantation increased according to the patient's severity. Individually, hospitalizations, hemocomponents reposition and hepatocellular carcinoma treatment were the main cost drivers to the patient on the waiting list. The longer the waiting time, the higher the total cost on list, causing greater impact on health systems.

Liver transplant modulates gut microbial dysbiosis and cognitive function in cirrhosis.

Liver transplantation (LT) improves daily function and cognition in patients with cirrhosis, but a subset of patients can remain impaired. Unfavorable microbiota or dysbiosis is observed in patients with cirrhosis, but the effect of LT on microbial composition, especially with poor post-LT cognition, is unclear. The aims were to determine the effect of LT on gut microbiota and to determine whether gut microbiota are associated with cognitive dysfunction after LT. We enrolled outpatient patients with cirrhosis on the LT list and followed them until 6 months after LT. Cognition (Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy score [PHES]), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and stool microbiota (multitagged sequencing for diversity and taxa) tests were performed at both visits. Persistent cognitive impairment was defined as a stable/worsening PHES. Both pre-/post-LT data were compared with age-matched healthy controls. We enrolled 45 patients (56 ± 7 years, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score 26 ± 8). They received LT 6 ± 3 months after enrollment and were re-evaluated 7 ± 2 months after LT with a stable course. A significantly improved HRQOL, PHES, with increase in microbial diversity, increase in autochthonous, and decrease in potentially pathogenic taxa were seen after LT compared with baseline. However, there was continued dysbiosis and HRQOL/cognitive impairment after LT compared with controls in 29% who did not improve PHES after LT. In these, Proteobacteria relative abundance was significantly higher and Firmicutes were lower after LT, whereas the reverse occurred in the group that improved. Delta PHES was negatively correlated with delta Proteobacteria and positively with delta Firmicutes. In conclusion, LT improves gut microbiota diversity and dysbiosis compared with pre-LT baseline but residual dysbiosis remains compared with controls. There is cognitive and HRQOL enhancement in general after LT, but a higher Proteobacteria relative abundance change is associated with posttransplant cognitive impairment. Liver Transplantation 23 907-914 2017 AASLD.

Clinical Impact and Risk Factors of Portal Vein Thrombosis for Patients on Wait List for Liver Transplant.

The effect of portal vein thrombosis on the progression of liver disease is controversial, with no consensus on optimal treatment. We aimed to assess how portal vein thrombosis affects wait list outcomes, identify risk factors associated with its development while on a wait list, and assess its effects on patient and graft survival. This US-based retrospective cohort study analyzed 134 109 adult patients on wait lists for or undergoing primary orthotopic liver transplant between January 2002 and June 2014. Rate of portal vein thrombosis development, time from entry on wait list to transplant, comparisons of wait list drop-off rates between patients with versus those without portal vein thrombosis, risk factors associated with its development while on a wait list, and its effects on patient and graft survival were analyzed. We found that the rate of portal vein thrombosis at listing increased. Patients with the disease at listing were more likely to be removed from wait lists because of being too sick. Portal vein thrombosis at listing was an independent risk factor for being removed from a wait list. Of 63 265 patients who underwent primary orthotopic liver transplant, those with the disease were more likely to have higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores and incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and diabetes mellitus. Portal vein thrombosis had a negative effect on patient and graft survival. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, body mass index, diabetes, and hepatocellular carcinoma were identified as risk factors for its development. Portal vein thrombosis represents an increasing management and outcome burden in liver transplant. Having this disease at listing and/or at time of transplant is associated with worse patient and graft survival. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma are among the biggest risk factors for its development while on a wait list.

Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy: Implications for liver transplantation.

The majority of patients on a waiting list for liver transplantation have end-stage liver disease. Because of the marked peripheral vasodilatation of end-stage cirrhosis that masks a latent myocardial dysfunction, cardiac abnormalities in the resting state are usually subclinical and escape the attention of physicians. However, when challenged, the systolic and diastolic contractile responses are attenuated. In addition to these contractile abnormalities, morphological changes, such as enlargement or hypertrophy of cardiac chambers, and electrophysiological repolarization changes, including a prolonged QT interval, can be observed. The constellation of these cardiac abnormalities is termed cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Liver transplantation induces significant cardiovascular stress. Clamping of the inferior vena cava and portal vein, hemorrhage and blood/volume infusion, and ischemia/reperfusion all cause hemodynamic fluctuation. The changing cardiac preload and afterload status increases the cardiac workload, and thus, the previously subclinical ventricular dysfunction may manifest as overt heart failure during the operative and perioperative periods. Cardiac dysfunction contributes to morbidity and mortality associated with liver transplantation. Cardiovascular events are the third leading cause of death in liver recipients. However, because liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment for end-stage liver failure and also appears to reverse cardiac abnormalities, it is important to understand the challenges of the heart in liver transplantation. This review focuses on cardiac status before, during, and after liver transplantation. Liver Transplantation 23 826-835 2017 AASLD.

Concordance among methods of nutritional assessment in patients included on the waiting list for liver transplantation.

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to determine the extent of malnutrition in patients waiting for a liver transplant. The agreement among the methods of nutritional assessment and their diagnostic validity were evaluated.MethodsPatients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (n = 110) were studied. The variables were: body mass index, analytical parameters, liver disease etiology, and complications. Liver dysfunction was evaluated using the Child–Pugh Scale. Nutritional state was studied using the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT), the Spanish Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (SENPE) criteria, the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI-O), and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Agreement was determined using the Kappa index. Area under receiver operator characteristic curves (AUCs), the Youden index (J), and likelihood ratios were computed.ResultsMalnutrition varied depending on the method of evaluation. The highest value was detected using the CONUT (90.9%) and the lowest using the SGA (50.9%). The pairwise agreement among the methods ranged from K = 0.041 to K = 0.826, with an overall agreement of each criteria with the remaining methods between K = 0.093 and K = 0.364. PNI-O was the method with the highest overall agreement. Taking this level of agreement into account, we chose the PNI-O as a benchmark method of comparison. The highest positive likelihood ratio for the diagnosis of malnutrition was obtained from the Nutritional Risk Index (13.56).ConclusionsMalnutrition prevalence is high and prevalence estimates vary according the method used, with low concordance among methods. PNI-O and NRI are the most consistent methods to identify malnutrition in these patients.

Hepatitis C Virus Positive Patients on the Waiting List for Liver Transplantation: Turnover and Characteristics of the Population on the Eve of the Therapeutic Revolution With Direct-Acting Antivirals

IntroductionAntivirals direct acting (DAA) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have brought a revolution in the field of transplantation. It is likely to think that in the future patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT) will no longer be registered for HCV-related cirrhosis but for liver disease from other causes. On the eve of this change, we show a snapshot of the Italian waiting list for LT. MethodsFrom October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013, we estimated the total number of patients on the liver waiting list as intention to treat (ITT), the number of incident cases, and the delistings, particularly in the HCV positive (HCV+) population. Gender, median age, etiology and prognosis of liver disease, presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), reason for delisting, mean waiting time for LT, and rate of death on waiting list were evaluated. ResultsIn the time period, there were 517 new patients who were HCV+ (median age, 53 years): 255 (49.3%) mono-infected with HCV, 236 (45.7%) co-infected with HCV and hepatitis B virus (HBV), 11 (2.1%) co-infected with HCV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 15 (2.9%) co-infected with HCV, HBV, and HIV. The median model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score at listing was 17 and HCC was present in 206 (39.8%) cases. HCV+ patients delisted were 442 (61.9%), 355 (80.3%) for LT. The mean waiting time to transplantation was 1.9 months; the percentage of death was 7.6%. ConclusionsThis snapshot of the waiting list for LT in the year before the advent of DAA drugs will allow us to assess whether and how they will change the waiting list for LT when we start to look at the impact of new therapies on the waiting list.

Nutritional status of liver transplant candidates

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine nutritional status, food consumption frequency, and malnutrition rate of the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation as nutrition has high risk in such patients. Method: In this, study nutritional status of a total of 102 liver transplant candidates, 41 women and 61 men, was evaluated. Data on anthropometric measurements, frequency of food consumption and eating habits of the patients was collected via a survey. Obtained data was recorded and expressed on computers using the SPSS 13.3 package program. Results: The average weight and height of the patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation was 78.5±15.5 kg (81.81±52.33 kg for men; 73.6±38.89 kg for women) and 1.66±0.92 m (170.66±26.78 cm for men; 158.32±19.79 cm for women), respectively. Considering their BMI, 37.6% of patients were found overweight and 37.6% were obese. According to SDG results, 28.4% (n=29) of the patients had moderate Protein-Energy Malnutrition (PEM). 76.5% of the patients skipped meals and 53.9% of those skipped meals as they had distaste at eating. While 12.7% of patients did not eat anything when they were tired or sad, 41.2% ate less than ever. 75.5% of the patients consume salty/ low-sodium food. Conclusion: Obesity may be as threatening as malnutrition for patients with chronic liver disease. Therefore, nutritional status- one of the variables affecting morbidity and mortality of liver transplantation candidatesshould be well monitored, and changes should be made when necessary.

Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Extrahepatic Collateral Blood Supply: Anatomic and Technical Considerations.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered a standard local-regional treatment for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the most common bridging therapy. This treatment is offered to more than 70% of patients who are on the waiting list for liver transplantation in the United States. HCC typically receives its blood supply from the hepatic artery; however, it can recruit a parasitic supply from extrahepatic collateral (EHC) arteries. The development of an EHC arterial blood supply can interfere with the therapeutic efficacy of TACE and result in treatment failure and poor outcome. Cross-sectional imaging-specifically computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging-has some limitations in depicting the presence or absence of an EHC arterial supply during the pre-TACE evaluation. Catheterization and angiography of every possible EHC artery during a routine TACE procedure would be time consuming and technically challenging and would not always be feasible. Therefore, the prediction of a potential EHC arterial supply on the basis of tumor location before, during, and after TACE is fundamental to achieving optimal therapeutic efficacy. To perform TACE through EHC arteries, special considerations are necessary to avoid potentially serious complications. The authors review the factors influencing the development of an EHC arterial blood supply to HCC and describe a systematic approach to enhance the ability to predict the presence of EHC arteries. They also describe the proper technique for TACE of each EHC artery and how to avoid potential technique-related complications. ©RSNA, 2017.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy vs. TACE or RFA as a bridge to transplant in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. An intention-to-treat analysis

There is limited information on the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a bridge to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma and no study comparing its efficacy to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We aimed to ascertain the safety and efficacy of SBRT on an intention-to-treat basis compared with TACE and RFA as a bridge to liver transplantation in a large cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Outcomes between groups were compared from the time of listing and from the time of transplant. Between July 2004 and December 2014, 379 patients were treated with either SBRT (n=36, SBRT group), TACE (n=99, TACE group) or RFA (n=244, RFA group). The drop-out rate was similar between groups (16.7% SBRT group vs. 20.2% TACE group and 16.8% RFA group, p=0.7); 30 patients were transplanted in the SBRT group, 79 in the TACE group and 203 in the RFA group. Postoperative complications were similar between groups. Patients in the RFA group had more tumor necrosis in the explant. The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial patient survival from the time of listing was 83%, 61% and 61% in the SBRT group vs. 86%, 61% and 56% in the TACE group, and 86%, 72% and 61% in the RFA group, p=0.4. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival from the time of transplant was 83%, 75% and 75% in the SBRT group vs. 96%, 75% and 69% in the TACE group, and 95%, 81% and 73% in the RFA group, p=0.7. In conclusion, SBRT can be safely utilized as a bridge to LT in patients with HCC, as an alternative to conventional bridging therapies. Patients with liver cancer included in the waiting list for liver transplantation are at risk of tumor progression and death. Stereotactic body radiotherapy may be a good alternative to conventional therapies to reduce this risk.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio correlates with proinflammatory neutrophils and predicts death in low model for end-stage liver disease patients with cirrhosis.

The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score has reduced accuracy for liver transplantation (LT) wait-list mortality when MELD ≤ 20. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a biomarker associated with systemic inflammation and may predict cirrhotic decompensation and death. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic utility of high NLR (≥4) for liver-related death among low MELD patients listed for LT, controlling for stage of cirrhosis. In a nested case-control study of cirrhotic adults awaiting LT (February 2002 to May 2011), cases were LT candidates with a liver-related death and MELD ≤ 20 within 90 days of death. Controls were similar LT candidates who were alive for ≥90 days after LT listing. NLR and other covariates were assessed at the date of lowest MELD, within 90 days of death for cases and within 90 days after listing for controls. There were 41 cases and 66 controls; MELD scores were similar. NLR 25th, 50th, 75th percentile cutoffs were 1.9, 3.1, and 6.8. NLR was ≥ 4 in 25/41 (61%) cases and in 17/66 (26%) controls. In univariate analysis, NLR (continuous ≥ 1.9, ≥ 4, ≥ 6.8), increasing cirrhosis stage, jaundice, encephalopathy, serum sodium, and albumin and nonselective beta-blocker use were significantly (P < 0.01) associated with liver-related death. In multivariate analysis, NLR of ≥1.9, ≥ 4, ≥ 6.8 were each associated with liver-related death. Furthermore, we found that NLR correlated with the frequency of circulating low-density granulocytes, previously identified as displaying proinflammatory properties, as well as monocytes. In conclusion, elevated NLR is associated with liver-related death, independent of MELD and cirrhosis stage. High NLR may aid in determining risk for cirrhotic decompensation, need for increased monitoring, and urgency for expedited LT in candidates with low MELD. Liver Transplantation 23 155-165 2017 AASLD.

Avaliação do conhecimento dos candidatos a transplante de fígado

Objetivo: verificar a consistência interna de um questionário de avaliação de conhecimento sobre o processo de transplante de fígado e avaliar o conhecimento dos candidatos em fila de espera para transplante de fígado, bem como, sua percepção sobre o próprio conhecimento. Método: estudo quantitativo, descritivo/exploratório, com pacientes em lista de espera para transplante de fígado. Resultados: 62 pacientes constituíram a amostra, tempo médio de fila de 5,7 anos. A média de acertos no questionário foi de 7,4 com desvio padrão de 2,5. As questões relativas à fase pós-transplante tiveram os piores índices de acerto. 43% apontaram ter recebido informações sobre doença e 77,4% não as consideraram suficientes. Com relação à compreensão da doença e transplante, 37,1% e 45,2% apontaram respectivamente compreensão insuficiente. A consistência interna do questionário, verificada por meio do alpha de Cronbach foi 0,813. Conclusão: o questionário desenvolvido apresentou consistência interna suficiente para avaliar o conhecimento dos candidatos a transplante de fígado e apontou déficit de informação em relação ao período pós-operatório do transplante.

Addictive behaviors in liver transplant recipients: The real problem?

Liver transplantation (LT) is the gold standard treatment for end-stage liver disease. Whatever the primary indication of LT, substance abuse after surgery may decrease survival rates and quality of life. Prevalence of severe alcohol relapse is between 11 and 26%, and reduces life expectancy regardless of the primary indication of LT. Many patients on waiting lists for LT are smokers and this is a major risk factor for both malignant tumors and cardiovascular events post-surgery. The aim of this review is to describe psychoactive substance consumption after LT, and to assess the impact on liver transplant recipients. This review describes data about alcohol and illicit drug use by transplant recipients and suggests guidelines for behavior management after surgery. The presence of an addiction specialist in a LT team seems to be very important.

Factors associated with waiting time on the liver transplant list: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database.

Background:Liver transplantation (LT) is an important treatment for acute liver failure and end-stage liver disease. In 2002, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was incorporated to prioritize patients awaiting LT. Although there is data on how the MELD score affects waiting times, there is a paucity of literature regarding other components. We aimed to evaluate the factors affecting LT waiting times in the United States.Methods:Using the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database, patients aged 12-75 years listed for LT over the years 2002-2015 were included. Variables tested in the model included patient characteristics, pertinent laboratory values, ABO blood type, region of listing, primary payer, ethnicity, and listing for simultaneous transplantation.Results:A total of 75,771 patients were included in the final analysis. The components of the MELD score were associated with shorter waiting times. Other factors associated with shorter waiting times were the need of mechanical ventilation and region 3 of transplantation. ABO blood type, primary payer, and placement of a transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt also influenced time on the LT waiting list.Conclusions:MELD score is utilized in the prioritization of liver allocation, and was expected to predict waiting-list time. Mechanical ventilation and other markers of disease severity are associated with higher MELD scores and thus shorter waiting times. Further research is needed to address reasons for the variation in waiting times between regions and payment systems in an attempt to decrease time to LT, standardize the listing process, and improve patient outcomes.

PS-016 - Midodrine and albumin for prevention of complications of cirrhosis in patients in the waiting list for liver transplantation. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

PS-016 - Midodrine and albumin for prevention of complications of cirrhosis in patients in the waiting list for liver transplantation. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Re: "FARADARMANI" on Patients in Waiting List for Liver Transplantation: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Re: "FARADARMANI" on Patients in Waiting List for Liver Transplantation: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

THU-431 - Clinical outcomes of patients delisted from the waiting list of liver transplantation after interferon-free antiviral therapy

THU-431 - Clinical outcomes of patients delisted from the waiting list of liver transplantation after interferon-free antiviral therapy

Octogenarian Donors in Liver Transplantation

IntroductionDue to the disparity between the number of patients on the list for liver transplantation and the availability of organs, the use of older donors has become necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of liver transplantation using octogenarian donors. MethodsFrom December 2003 to February 2016, 777 liver transplantations were performed at our institution, 33 of them (4.2%) with donors 80 years old and above. Our policy for the acceptance of these donors is based on preoperative liver function tests, donor hemodynamic stability, and intraoperative normal gross aspect. Octogenarian grafts were deliberately not assigned to retransplantations or to recipients with multiple previous surgical procedures or extensive portal thrombosis. ResultsMean donor age was 82.7 ± 2.1 years, with a range between 80 and 88. Only 12.1% suffered hemodynamic instability during the intensive care unit stay. Three donors (9.1%) had a history of diabetes mellitus. The mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score among recipients was 14.7 ± 5.6. Mean cold ischemia time was 302 ± 61 minutes. After a median follow-up of 18.5 months (range 7.5 to 47.5), no graft developed primary nonfunction. We observed hepatic artery thrombosis in 1 patient (3%) and biliary complications in 4 patients (12.5%). There was 1 case of ischemic-type biliary lesion, although it was related to hepatic artery thrombosis. Patient survival at 1 and 3 years was 90.3%, whereas graft survival was 92.6% and 86.4%, respectively. ConclusionsExcellent mid-term results can be obtained after liver transplantation with octogenarian donors with strict donor selection and adequate graft allocation.

Oncological Evaluation by Positron-emission Tomography, Circulating Tumor Cells and Alpha Fetoprotein in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma on the Waiting List for Liver Transplantation

IntroductionThe objectives of this study are the determination of the number of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), by means of the IsoFlux enrichment system (Fluxion Biosciences Inc, San Francisco, California, United States) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in compliance with the Milan criteria and on the waiting list for hepatic transplantation, as well as the study of its relation with the of α-fetoprotein levels (AFP) and positron-emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) findings. Patients and MethodsAn oncologycal evaluation with PET-CT, CTCs, and AFP was conducted in 24 consecutive patients with HCC eligible for orthotopic liver transplantation according to the Milan criteria. The diagnosis of HCC was made according to clinical, biological, and radiological findings. ResultsWe detected CTCs in peripheral blood in 21 of 24 patients (87.5%) before liver transplantation, with a mean number CTCs of 156 ± 370 (range, 2 to 1768) with statistically significant association between number of CTCs detected in peripheral blood and the time within the waiting list (P < .05), but not betwen AFP levels and standard uptake value and time to orthotopic liver transplantation (P > .05). ConclusionsPET-TC, CTCs, and AFP levels could be an essential key for the correct management of the patients with HCC on the waiting list for liver transplantation.