Abstract:

Objective

To evaluated the clinical features and outcome of liver transplantation(LT)for primary biliary cirrhrosis(PBC).

Methods

Clinicopathological data of 7 cases with PBC who underwent liver transplantation in our transpalatation center were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Among 452 patients who underwent liver transplantation from Dec 2003 to Oct 2005,7(1.55%)suffered from PBC.The median age of the 6 women and 1 men was(50.7±10.9)years.the mean serum bilirubin was 345.8±88.8μmol/L before liver transplantation.Primary immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporine(n=2)or tacrolimus(Tac)(n=4).Corticosteroids were withdrawn six months after OLT,only 1 patient must use prednisolone perpetually for ever elevated serum bilirubin.3 cases suffered from episodes of acute cellular rejection within one month after liver transplantation but cured when strengthened immunosuppression therapy.The follow-up after liver transplantation was ranged from 5 days to 36months,1 case died from multiple organ failure and 6 cases cured.Actuarial patient survival after 2 years was 85.7%,no recurrent PBC case was found.

Conclusion

Orthotopic liver transplantation is the only effective curative therapy for end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis.Immunosuppression therapy should be strengthened on early stage after transplantation to avoid episodes of acute cellular rejection。

Key words: Liver transplantation, Cirrhosis, Biliary