Background: The effect of donor fatty liver on graft survival is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of steatosis on the outcomes of OLT among our recipients.
Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the effect of donor liver steatosis on postoperative liver function and prognosis. Data obtained from liver transplantation data registry of our organ transplant center. Liver biopsies taken before transplantation were reviewed by two pathologists. Pathology reports were divided into four groups: normal pathology; mild fatty change (10%-30%); moderate (30%-60%); and severe steatosis (>60%). Livers with severe steatosis were excluded from transplantation. Factors determining transplantation outcome, such as early mortality, duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, clinical rejection episodes, and graft surgical complications, were compared between subjects who received donor liver, with various degrees of steatosis.
Results: Three-month survival rates in recipients without donor liver fatty change, subjects with mild fatty change (10%-30%) and those with moderate (30%-60%) steatosis were 68%, 72%, and 76%, respectively, which were not significantly different (P>.05). Furthermore, short-term (hospital) mortality (20%, 14.3%, and 21.2%), hospital stay (30.89, 29.93, and 23.62 days), and length of ICU admission (5.06, 5.89, and 4.39 days) were not significantly different. In addition, Child score of recipients, pre- and postoperative liver function enzyme changes were similar.
Conclusion: Mild-to-moderate (up to 60%) liver fatty change was not found to be associated with a worse prognosis in OLT.