Neurologic complications in adult living donor liver transplant recipients

[Guest guest]

Neurologic complications in adult living donor liver transplant recipients

Authors: Kim, Bum-Soo; Lee, Sung-Gyu; Hwang, Shin; Park, Kwang-Min; Kim, Ki-Hun; Ahn, Chul-Soo; Moon, Deok-Bog; Ha, Tae-Yong; Song, Gi-Won; Kim, Dong-Sik; Moon, Ki-Myung; Jung, Dong-Hwan

Source: Clinical Transplantation, Volume 21, Number 4, July/August 2007 , pp. 544-547(4)

Abstract:

Kim B-S, Lee S-G, Hwang S, Park K-M, Kim K-H, Ahn C-S, Moon D-B, Ha T-Y, Song G-W, Kim D-S, Moon K-M, Jung D-H. Neurologic complications in adult living donor liver transplant recipients. Clin Transplant 2007 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2007.00687.x © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2007 Abstract:  Background:  Neurologic complications (NC) after liver transplantation are not uncommon, with serious complications such as central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), often causing disability. Objective:  We investigated the incidence and features of NC following liver transplantation in adult recipients. Patients and methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 319 adult patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2004 and May 2005 at the Asan Medical Center. Results:  Neurologic complications developed in 49 of 319 patients (15.4%). Although most of these complications were minor, including tremor and foot drop, three patients developed CPM, and one each developed posterior leukoencephalopathy, cerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral infarction. One-yr survival rates were 95.9% in patients without NC and 83.7% in patients with NC (p = 0.004). Hospital stay was prolonged in patients with NC. Graft-to-recipient body weight ratio (GRWR) did not affect occurrence of NC. Conclusions:  Neurologic complications were not uncommon in liver transplant recipients. These complications contributed to prolongation of hospital stay, increased in-hospital mortality, and decreased graft and patient survival. Every effort should be made to prevent NC, as well as to detect and treat them as soon as possible.

Keywords: liver transplantation; neurologic complication

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2007.00687.x