Liver Transplantation Reverses Hepatic Myelopathy in Hepatitis B-Related Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Transplant Proc. 2022 Jan-Feb;54(1):158-160. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2021.11.016. Epub 2021 Dec 24.

Abstract

Severe neurologic complications after chronic liver disease greatly affect the patient's quality of life. Hepatic myelopathy (HM) is a rare but devastating disease, in chronic liver disease. The limbs of patients with HM show slowly progressive symmetrical spastic paralysis without sensory loss. Management of this severe neurologic complication is challenging. These patients often require timely and effective clinical intervention. Although liver transplantation is one of the effective treatments for HM, the prognosis of these patients remains poor, many of them spend their lives in wheelchairs. Here, we report a patient with HM after hepatitis B virus related decompensated liver cirrhosis who recovered well after liver transplant. This work was carried out in compliance with the Helsinki Congress and the Declaration of Istanbul.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis B* / complications
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / surgery
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Quality of Life
  • Spinal Cord Diseases* / etiology
  • Spinal Cord Diseases* / surgery