Background: With the poor results of resective and fenestration procedures for polycystic liver disease (PCLD), we present the first series of patients receiving orthotopic liver transplantation for this condition.
Methods: Five of our six patients with PCLD had polycystic kidney disease also. Three of these five received combined organ transplants, while the other two required subsequent kidney transplants.
Results: Forty-eight and 52 months after orthotopic liver transplantation, all surviving patients had relief of their pain, distention, and anorexia. Two patients had succumbed to infectious complications and died at 15 and 24 months after transplant.
Conclusions: We conclude that patients with PCLD can be transplanted safely for the relief of their distention and anorexia, with good results. Those patients with both PCLD and polycystic kidney disease who are not dialysis dependent can be managed for several years with isolated liver transplantation and then receive kidney transplantation if needed. Those who are dialysis dependent should receive combined liver-kidney transplantation. Unfortunately, patients with polycystic disease seem to be very susceptible to infectious complications after organ transplantation.