Long-Term Complications and Survival of Patients After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Abstract Introduction The survival rates among patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has increased to 83% and 75% at 1 and 5 years, respectively. However, these patients are at increased risk of long-term complications. Objective To identify long-term complications and survivals among patients after OLT. Methods From September 1999 to July 2009 we evaluated long-term complications among 78 consecutive patients after OLT including 46 males. Results Complications de novo after OLT were metabolic ( n = 38; 67%), infections ( n = 13; 23%), recurrent liver disease ( n = 12; 21%), osteopenia/osteoporosis ( n = 10; 18%), acute/chronic rejection ( n = 8; 14%), renal failure ( n = 2; 4%) and Kaposi's sarcoma ( n = 1). Their overall survival at 118 months was 55%. Conclusions The most common long-term complications after OLT were metabolic, infections, and disease recurrence.