Liver Transplantation In Asia Research Articles

Trends of liver transplantation in Asia.

Liver transplantation (LT) in Asia started comparatively early in 1964, just 1year after Starzl's trail-blazing first attempt. Despite the quick start, LT was slow to develop in this region. Limited access to universal healthcare, lack of public understanding and support as well as the absence of strong legislation, on a backdrop of a wide range of diverse social, religious, economic and cultural background are all contributory factors. Through strong administrative efforts, the number of DDLTs in selected Asian countries has been slowly rising in recent years. However, Asians are generally still less likely to donate organs than Caucasians after death. The strong demand for LT with limited access to deceased organs has, therefore, led to constant need for innovation in LT this region, with the pioneering of various LDLT techniques and safe expansion of donor pool being driven primarily by Asian centers. Familiarity and the development of technical expertise in donor surgery have also resulted in Asian centers repeatedly pushing the boundaries on minimally invasive donor and recipient surgery. In this article, we focus on the past and present states of LT in Asia and explore the future trends of LT in this region.

Longitudinal analysis of transplant candidates with primary sclerosing cholangitis in an Asian liver transplant center.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare disease in Asia, and few studies have investigated the disease in this ethnicity, particularly in wait-listed patients for liver transplantation (LT). We aimed to investigate the prognostic factors and outcomes of wait-listed patients with PSC in an Asian transplant center. Survival was retrospectively analyzed. Eighteen (10 male and 8 female) wait-listed patients with PSC, with a median age at diagnosis of 44.5 years, were included. Compared with men, women had significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index scores (3.28 vs. 1.13; P = 0.012) and bilirubin levels (7.68 vs. 4.03 mg/dl; P = 0.043) and more often presented with decompensating events, including ascites [5 (63%) vs. 1 (10%); P = 0.043] and splenomegaly [8 (100%) vs. 4 (40%); P = 0.013]. Compared with the non-LT group, the LT group exhibited a superior survival rate for women ( P = 0.004) but not for men. In the univariable analysis, significant risk factors associated with overall survival included malignancies with a hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 5.53 (1.00-30.51) and esophageal varices (EV) [4.18 (1.05-16.61)], whereas female gender [25.00 (1.49-500.00)], LT [0.09 (0.01-0.80)] and EV [39.03 (2.92-521.96)] were indicated in the multivariable analysis. For Asian wait-listed patients with PSC, EV and female gender were the risk factors related to overall survival, and LT was the protective factor. Our experiences suggested that LT brings more benefits in female patients. Strategies are needed to provide equivalent transplant benefits.

Survival Rate of Liver Transplantation in Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Liver transplantation is one of the most effective treatments for acute liver failure, chronic liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was implemented to evaluate the survival rate of liver transplant in Asia. Studies that investigated the survival rate of liver transplant were selected using a systematic search strategy in the following databases: Medline, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane to Nov 30th, 2020. Pooled survival rate and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Der-Simonian and Laird method. Stata 16.0 (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) was used for analysis. One, 2, 3, 5, and 10-year survival rates of liver transplant were estimated to be 85%, 80%, 75%, 73%, and 71%, respectively. The results of the univariate meta-regression for defining the sources of heterogeneity for one-Year survival rate (SR) showed significant effects of bias (β high risk/moderate risk =0.059, 95% CI: 0.002, 0.115, P-Value=0.04) and follow up time (β= -0.0002, 95% CI: -0.0003, -0.00, P-Value=0.02) on heterogeneity. The survival rate of liver transplant in Asia is comparable with the corresponding rate reported in the United States and Europe. This study provides a better view of the efficiency of medical cares, regarding liver transplantation. Medical care be enhanced to increase the survival of liver transplant patients.

Increasing Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Liver Paired Exchange

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) continues to be the primary modality of liver transplantation in Asia, but it accounts for about 5% of all liver transplantations in the US. ABO incompatibility is the primary reason motivated donors are declined. Although kidney paired exchanges are common, liver paired exchange (LPE) is still evolving in the US. This is a retrospective review (between January 1, 2019, and July 31, 2021) of our initial experience with LPE. A total of 10 LPEs (20 LDLTs) were performed during the study period. Seven LPEs were initiated by a nondirected O donor. The other 3 pair sets involved 1 ABO compatible and 1 ABO incompatible pair. Transplantations in a pair set were completed within a mean of 4.8 (range 1-14) days of each other. All 20 donors are doing well with no major complications at 12.7 (range 1-20) months. Seventeen of 20 recipients are alive and have good allograft function. One recipient died in the early postoperative period. Two late deaths of patients with functioning allografts were due to COVID-19 (at 8 months) and peritoneal carcinomatosis and gram-negative sepsis (at 9 months). LPE is feasible in a high-volume LDLT center and is a useful option to increase LDLT by overcoming ABO incompatibility. Nondirected donors can be utilized to initiate an LPE.

Unilateral Versus Bilateral Biliary Drainage for Post-Transplant Anastomotic Stricture

Living donor liver transplantation is the most common type of liver transplantation in Asia. Post-transplant biliary stricture is frequent in living donor liver transplantation, and endoscopic management is considered to be the treatment of choice. However, endoscopic management is still challenging in patients who undergo right lobe living donor liver transplantation because of the anatomical alteration. In this article, we reviewed the recently updated results for proper endoscopic biliary drainage in post-living donor liver transplantation anatomical biliary stricture and compared unilateral and bilateral drainage.

Asian Liver Transplant Network Clinical Guidelines on Immunosuppression in Liver Transplantation.

Most management guidelines and much of the available clinical trial evidence for immunosuppressants in liver transplantation (LT) pertain to Western practice. While evidence from Western studies may not translate to Asian settings, there is a paucity of Asian randomized controlled trials of immunosuppression in liver recipients. Nonetheless, there are notable differences in the indications and procedures for LT between Western and Asian settings. The Asian Liver Transplant Network held its inaugural meeting in Singapore in November 2016 and aimed to provide an Asian perspective on aspects of immunosuppression following LT. Because of their importance to outcome following LT, the meeting focused on (1) reducing the impact of renal toxicity, (2) hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, and (3) nonadherence with immunosuppressant therapy.

Ethical dilemmas related to living donor liver transplantation in Asia

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has evolved rapidly in Asia with good outcomes for both donor and recipient. Nonetheless, LDLT remains a highly demanding technique and complex surgery. The potential risks to the donors provide the basis for many of the ethical dilemmas associated with LDLT. The transplant team must have a good knowledge of the principles of bioethics in order to handle these matters. To look after the need, donor's safety and the chance for good recipient outcomes, the principles of respect for the donor's autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence should be practiced. In accordance with the concept of equipoise, the risk to the donor must balance the benefit to the recipient. The transplant center should have adequate experience and proven expertise in LDLT. There are concerns regarding the validity of informed consent given by the donor. While donations to non-relative patients may, at first sight, indicate radical altruism, it is important to apply careful scrutiny. Though organ trading is strictly prohibited by the law, there seems to be an inherent risk with directed donations to strangers. Transplant tourism has flourished in some countries in spite of the existence of strict laws. There are reservations regarding transplantation done by foreign visiting teams. Donor websites facilitating patients and donors and Facebook pages bear no responsibility for the outcomes of their matches and cannot ensure sufficient and accurate information about donation, transplantation, and post-operation life. Telemedicine and virtual consultations appeared to work better when the clinician and the patient know and trust each other.

Predictors of Non-adherence to Immunosuppressive Therapy in Asian Liver Transplant Recipients

BackgroundAdherence to immunosuppressive medications has been shown to affect post-transplant outcomes. We aimed to determine the level of adherence to immunosuppressive therapy in liver transplant (LT) recipients and to elucidate factors associated with it, as well as patient preferences on the dosing schedule. MethodsLT recipients were recruited during transplant clinic follow-up. A validated Morisky 8-item questionnaire was completed by patients to assess their adherence to immunosuppressive therapy. Adherence was determined by the sum of the responses to the questionnaire. Low, medium, and high adherence were defined by a Morisky score of >2, 1 to 2, and 0, respectively. Data on the patient's socio-economic and clinical background, dosing schedule of immunosuppressant medications, and patient preferences were included in the questionnaire. ResultsA total of 107 LT recipients were approached and 75 completed the questionnaire. The majority of patients (48/74, 64.9%) preferred a once-daily medication regimen. The proportion of high adherence was 24/75 (32.0%), medium adherence was 51/75 (42.7%), and low adherence was 19/75 (25.3%). Multivariate analysis showed younger age and post-transplant duration >5 years as independent predictors for low adherence. Among low-adherence patients, 16/19 (84.2%) patients were on a twice-daily regimen, and, of these, 14/16 (87.5%) preferred their medications to be reduced to once daily. ConclusionsA significant proportion (68%) of LT recipients had low to moderate adherence to medications, with younger age and longer post-transplant duration of >5 years as independent predictors. Early identification of at-risk patients is essential to allow implementation of measures to improve adherence. Simplifying medication regimens to once daily is a potential way to improve adherence.

Living donor liver transplant (LDLT) is the way forward in Asia.

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is currently the commonest form of liver transplantation in Asia. Efforts to improve the number of deceased donor liver transplantation have not been uniformly successful. We believe that THE unique combination of demographic, social, economic and political factors that exist in Asia will ensure that LDLT will continue to remain the predominant form of liver transplantation. While efforts to increase deceased donation rates should continue and intensify, progress in LDLT should also be supported and encouraged, as it will be the main workhorse of liver transplantation in Asia in the near and medium-term future.

Reconstruction of Isolated Inferior Right Hepatic Vein(s) in Right Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation Using Polytetrafluoroethylene Grafts: A New Feasible Concept, Technique of 'Bridging Conduit Venoplasty' and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Right lobe living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) remains the most common form of liver transplantation in Asia. However, reconstruction of the venous outflow in a right liver allograft may pose technical difficulties if hepatic venous variations are present. Recently, much emphasis has been given to the reconstruction of large and multiple inferior right hepatic veins (IRHVs). The method of reconstructive technique, type of vascular grafts, and the outcome after the procedure have been a point of debate. In this report we discuss the IRHV reconstruction techniques using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular grafts and the outcomes after such reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHODS Out of 262 right liver allografts that underwent venous reconstruction using ePTFE vascular grafts, IRHVs required either venoplasty or second inferior vena cava (IVC) anastomosis in 99 recipients. Depending upon type of IRHV reconstruction, the recipients were divided in 2 groups: Group A (n=52): IRHV venoplasty using ePTFE graft, and group B (n=47): Direct IRHV-to-IVC anastomosis. The outcome after LDLT was compared for these 2 groups. RESULTS The ePTFE venoplasty group had significantly shorter warm ischemia time as compared to the direct to IVC anastomosis group (p<0.01, 95% confidence interval -10.96 to -2.92). There were no thrombotic complications in either group of recipients; 4.2% of the recipients from group B developed hepatic venous stenosis but with no clinical deterioration; and 1 patient from group A developed ePTFE graft migration in the second portion of the duodenum that required surgical exploration. CONCLUSIONS The IRHVs drain a considerable portion of the posterior sector of right liver allografts and thus must be reconstructed. Use of ePTFE vascular grafts for IRHV venoplasty is a safe and feasible concept that facilitates the outflow reconstruction of liver allografts.

Trends in the use of maintenance immunosuppressive drugs among liver transplant recipients in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

During the past two decades, many novel immunosuppressive drugs have been approved for transplant recipients. Trends in the use of maintenance immunosuppressants after liver transplantation in Asia are unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze the prescription trends in maintenance immunosuppressive drugs among liver transplant recipients in Taiwan and compare the results with the trends reported from western countries. We conducted a retrospective nationwide population-based study utilizing the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to analyze the prescribing patterns of immunosuppressants used in Taiwanese liver transplant recipients from 2000 to 2009. A total of 1686 liver transplant patients and their prescriptions of immunosuppressants were analyzed. The 5-year survival rate of liver transplant recipients was 79.6%. In 2009, the major immunosuppressive therapy among liver transplant recipients was a dual-drug regimen with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid (57.3%). Among the calcineurin inhibitors (CNI), the use of cyclosporine decreased from 58.9% to 12.5%, while the use of tacrolimus notably increased from 23.3% to 77.5%. The use of azathioprine decreased from 21.3% to 0.4%, while the use of mycophenolic acid increased from 56.1% to 76.5%. Among the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, sirolimus was approved in 2002, and its use increased to 8.7% in 2009. In the first 3 months after liver transplantation, a total of 17 different regimens were used in 2009, compared with seven regimens in 2000. Although the CNI-based combination obviously remains the major regimen, our results reveal a trend toward individualized immunosuppressive regimens among Taiwanese liver transplant recipients. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Technical Tips and Tricks for Living Donations

Adult right-lobe living-donor liver transplantation is a technically demanding operation. Since it was conducted for the first time in 1996, its application has been expanding tremendously and it has become the mainstay at most Asian liver transplant centers. This is the result of its success rate for both donors and recipients and because it has helped alleviated the severe shortage of deceased-donor liver grafts. Improved understanding of the anatomy of the liver and advances in surgical techniques has dramatically reduced the complication rates. Recipients now can have excellent long-term survival, while the risks borne by the donors are acceptable. This article presents the surgical tips and tricks for donor right hepatectomy, the back-table procedure and recipient operation. The management of small-for-size liver grafts and methods of biliary reconstruction are also discussed.

Achieving a successful balance between living related and cadaveric donors: Experiences of a south Asian liver transplant programme

Background and Aim: Liver transplantation is usually performed in an individual centre predominantly using either living related or BSD donors depending on regional availability. Given cultural and technical circumstances in India, we are uniquely placed to try and utilize both resources to satisfy waiting list demands. We describe the experiences, evolution and early outcomes from India's largest mixed liver transplant programme, over the last 3 years.

Influences of Donor and Recipient Gene Polymorphisms on Tacrolimus Dosing and Pharmacokinetics in Asian Liver Transplant Patients

Background: Tacrolimus pharmacokinetics has large inter-individual variability. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of donor and recipient gene polymorphisms on tacrolimus dosing and pharmacokinetics in Asian liver transplant patients. Methods: Steady-statetacrolimus concentrations at 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h were measured. Pharma- cokinetic parameters were estimated with a one-compartment linear model using WinNonlin 6.1 program. DNA from donor liver and recipient blood samples were genotyped for CYP3Aand ABCB1 polymorphisms. Results: A total of 13 donors and 17 recipients were included. Donor genotypes influenced tacrolimus trough concentration-to-dose (C0/D) ratio only at Week 1. Patients with liver grafts from CYP3A5 expressors (*1*1 and *1*3) achieved lower mean C0/D ratio than those with grafts from non-expressors (*3*3) (64.48 versus 129.21 (mcg/L)/(mg/kg/day), P = 0.040). Hence, the dose required to achieve target concentration in patients with donor genotype CYP3A5 expressors was higher than non-expressors (0.12 versus 0.08 mg/kg, P = 0.045). Recipient with ABCB1-C3435T genotype TT demonstrated higher apparent oral clearance of tacrolimus as compared to genotype CC (17.7 versus7.9 L/h, P = 0.033). Conclusions: Donor liver CYP3Apolymorphism could potentially affect tacrolimus C0/D ratio as early as the first week post liver transplant. Genotyping of liver donors may be useful to achieve the optimal drug concentration during this critical period.

Liver Transplantation in Asia: Past, Present and Future

With the technical advances and improvements in perioperative management and immunosuppressants, liver transplantation is the standard treatment for patients with end-stage liver diseases. In Asia, a shortage of deceased donor liver grafts is the universal problem to be faced with in all transplant centres. Many surgical innovations are then driven to counteract this problem. This review focuses on 3 issues that denote the development of liver transplantation in Asian countries. These include living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), split liver transplantation (SLT) and liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Minimal graft weight, types of liver graft to donate and the inclusion of the middle hepatic vein with the graft are the main issues to be established in LDLT. The rapid growth and wide dissemination of LDLT has certainly alleviated the supply-and-demand problem of liver grafts in Asia. SLT is another attractive approach. Technical expertise, donor selection and graft allocation are the main determinants for its success. Liver transplantation plays a key role in the management of HCC in Asia. LDLT would be the main strategy in this aspect. The issue of extending the selection criteria for HCC patients for LDLT is still controversial. On the whole, future developments to increase the donor pool for the expanding recipient need in Asia would involve transplantation from non-heart beating donor and ABO incompatible transplantation.

Organ and Tissue Transplantation

There could not have been a more appropriate time as now for a special issue of the Annals dedicated to transplantation. The topic is in the lay press everyday for both the right and the wrong reasons. This special issue covers not only the science and art of transplantation but also many of the ethical and social issues that are inherent in this field of medicine. The issue provides an overview of the Singapore experience in transplantation of various organs and tissues and has also been enriched by the contributions from world leaders in the field. One common theme in this issue of the Annals is the success of the various solid organ transplant programmes in Singapore. Indeed, the results of renal (both adult and paediatric) and heart transplants in Singapore, as reported by Vathsala and Chow; 1 Ng and colleagues; 2 and Sivathasan, 3 are comparable to if not better, than those reported from North American or International Registries. The review of liver transplantation in Asia by Ng and Lo 4 further highlights the innovative techniques that have evolved specifically to address the problem of organ shortage and the high prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Asia. Indeed, Asia is considered the world leader in liver transplantation with many centres in the Far East having pioneered these techniques. The reviews by Hwang and Ong 5 and Tan et al 6 on advances in haematopoietic stem cell and cornea transplantation respectively, further attest to the advancing field of tissue transplantation. In total, transplantation has come of age in Singapore, is no more an experimental form of therapy but is instead the standard of care for many life-threatening conditions. A second fact highlighted in this issue are the similarities in complications of transplantation across all solid organs. Infectious complications were the leading cause of death among both adult and paediatric renal transplants as well as heart transplant recipients. 1,2 On the contrary, chronic rejection and chronic allograft vasculopathy were the leading causes of graft failure for renal and heart transplants respectively. As suggested by Sir Roy Calne 7 in this issue, continued research in strategies to ameliorate chronic graft

Population Pharmacokinetics of Tacrolimus in Whole Blood and Plasma in Asian Liver Transplant Patients

The objectives of this study were to develop population pharmacokinetic models of tacrolimus in an Asian population with whole blood and plasma drug concentration data, to compare the variability of the pharmacokinetic parameters in these two matrices and to search for the main patient characteristics that explain the variability in pharmacokinetic parameters. Prospective pharmacokinetic assessment followed by model fitting. Whole blood samples from 31 liver transplant patients in a local hospital receiving oral tacrolimus as part of their immunosuppressive therapy were assessed. Plasma samples from 29 of the 31 patients were also evaluated. Concentrations of tacrolimus in whole blood and plasma were determined by an electrospray high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Two hundred and thirteen whole blood and 157 plasma tacrolimus concentrations were used for building two nonlinear mixed-effects population models to describe the disposition of tacrolimus in whole blood and plasma, respectively. Covariates that were investigated included demographic characteristics, biological markers of liver and renal functions, corticosteroid dose and haematological parameter. A one-compartment model was used to describe the whole blood and plasma concentration-time data of tacrolimus after oral administration. For the whole blood population model, the population estimates of the first-order absorption rate constant (k(a)), apparent clearance based on whole blood concentration after oral administration (CL(B)/F) and apparent volume of distribution based on whole blood concentrations after oral administration (V(d,B)/F) were 2.08h(-1), 14.1 L/h and 217L, respectively. The coefficient of variations (CVs) of interpatient variabilities in CL(B)/F and V(d,B)/F were 65.7% and 63.8%, respectively. Bodyweight, liver and renal function influenced CL(B)/F, while height and haematocrit influenced V(d,B)/F. The residual (unexplained) variability was 34.8%. For the plasma population model, the population estimates of the k(a), apparent clearance based on plasma concentrations after oral administration (CL(P)/F) and apparent volume of distribution based on plasma concentrations after oral administration (V(d,P)/F) were 5.21h(-1), 537 L/h and 563L, respectively. The CVs of interpatient variabilities in CL(P)/F and V(d,P)/F were 96.0% and 105.4%, respectively. Bodyweight was found to influence CL(P)/F, while the erythrocyte-to-plasma concentration ratio influenced V(d,P)/F. The residual (unexplained) variability was 49.8% at the mean plasma concentration of 1.1 ng/mL. Whole blood and plasma population pharmacokinetic models of tacrolimus in Asian adult and paediatric liver transplant patients were developed using prospective data in a clinical setting. This has identified and quantified sources of interindividual variability in CL(B)/F, V(d,B)/F, CL(P)/F and V(d,P)/F of tacrolimus in Asian liver transplant patients. Information derived from the whole blood population model may subsequently be used by clinicians for dosage individualisation through Bayesian forecasting.

Improving cadaveric organ donation rates in kidney and liver transplantation in Asia

In the year 2001, cadaveric kidney and liver transplant rates (CadTx) in countries with well-established transplant programs such as the United States and Spain ranged from 51 to 61.9 and 18.7 to 31.3 per million population (pmp), respectively. However, overall kidney and liver transplant rates in Asia are significantly lower at 4.3 and 0.3 pmp, respectively. Improving CadTx rates to meet the needs of organ failure patients poses several unique challenges in Asia. Across Asia, there is a wide disparity in prehospital emergency services and intensive care facilities that allow victims of cerebrovascular accident or trauma to be sent to hospitals for optimal management. Identification of the brain-dead victim in an intensive care setting, donor referral to an organ procurement coordinator/network, making the request for organ donation, and obtaining consent for organ donation from the family are other critical issues that impact on successful cadaveric donation. While affirmative legislation regarding organ donation is existent in most Asian countries, religious, ethnic, and cultural influences on concepts of death and the sanctity of the human body remain major barriers to obtaining consent for cadaveric donation. Although there are no overt objections to CadTx among the major religions of Asia, perceptions to the contrary largely limit consent for organ donation from potential donor families. Development of transportation and communication networks, public and donor hospital education programs, legislative initiatives such as presumed consent, and establishment of effective organ procurement practices are all key initiatives that will improve CadTx rates. Broadening donor criteria as with the use of expanded criteria donors, including non–heart-beating and older donors, may further improve cadaveric donation rates by as much as 20%. Finally, ethical transplant practices that prohibit trade in organs will promote an environment conducive to cadaveric donation. Together with efforts to increase living donor TX transplant rates, it is hoped that these measures will increase the supply of organs so as to meet the needs of organ failure patients in Asia.

Ethics and rationale of living-donor liver transplantation in Asia.

Living-donor liver transplantation took root in Asia as a natural result of circumstances, because the supply of organs from the cadaveric pool remained scarce over the years. In contrast to Western countries, the majority of organs for liver transplantation in Asia come from live donations. As the expertise of the transplant teams grows, patient outcomes improve, and public awareness increases, the option of live donation of the liver is increasingly chosen. Although no live liver donor death has yet been reported from Asia, the risk is not eliminated and remains a major consideration in the potential donor's decision to donate. The low morbidity and mortality rate could be attributed to the extensive experience of surgeons in liver surgery, because surgical liver disease is highly prevalent in Asia. Although the donor risk is estimated to be low, live organ donation should be absolutely voluntary, with consent given on the basis of unbiased information and chosen only when the option for obtaining a cadaveric graft is practically nil. It is only under these conditions that living-donor liver transplantation should be perpetuated. Although the disease-donation-transplantation process involves a complex interplay of psychosocial and family dynamics, the potential candidate's perception will necessarily depend on the surgeon's explanation. The ethical soundness of the practice of living-donor liver transplantation rests primarily on the ones who deliver the service.

EDITORS??? COMMENTS

The Editors of Transplantation® are particularly pleased to publish this supplement because it represents the unique, collective experience of over 1,500 living-donor liver transplants in Asia. We welcome, as Guest Editor of this supplement, Professor Chao-Long Chen of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Professor Chen is one of the pioneer liver transplant surgeons in Asia and is responsible for spearheading the publication of this supplement. The papers presented in this symposium offer our readers an overview on the current status of living-donor liver transplantation in Asia. The safety standard of the donor operation is of special concern. The various technical innovations in graft design and vascular reconstruction are also presented in detail. In addition, the ethical issues unique to Asian countries and the controversies in applying the operation to patients with malignancy or hepatitis B and in high urgency situations are addressed. The Editors feel that the extensive experience in living-donor liver transplantation described in this symposium will help liver transplant surgeons and physicians to refine the practice of living-donor liver transplantation not only in Asia but in other parts of the world.