Liver transplantation using grafts with rare metabolic disorders

Abstract

Metabolic diseases that involve the liver represent a heterogeneous group of disorders. Apart from the metabolic defect, the subject's liver functions may be normal. With the increasing need for organs, livers from donors with metabolic diseases other than familial amyloid polyneuropathy might be possibly used for transplantation. However, whether such livers qualify as grafts and how they might impact recipient outcome are still unanswered questions. This review of the literature summarizes current experience in the use of such grafts in the context of cadaveric, domino, and living-related liver transplantation.

Keywords: Liver transplantation; Rare hereditary metabolic disorders; Unusual grafts.