Despite certain strict criteria for suitable organ donors, some unrecognized and unusual diseases have been transmitted through liver transplantation to recipients. In the current series, we review our experience with 14 patients who underwent liver transplantation using donor grafts with unusual pathology, including amyloidosis (6), schistosomiasis (3), iron overload (2), and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (3). One of 6 patients who received grafts with amyloidosis developed vasculitis associated with the presence of arterial amyloid. With proper management, patients with donor schistosomiasis, iron overload and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency appear to have outcomes comparable to liver transplantation using grafts without these findings. In conclusion, long-term follow-up is necessary to confirm these findings and understand the impact of using these grafts.
Copyright 2006 AASLD