[Motherhood and fatherhood after liver transplantation]

Liver transplantation for terminal liver failure enables patients to look forward to many years of good quality life. As a result, more and more of the often still relatively young transplant recipients inquire about the possible risks to a child procreated after transplantation.

During 9.5 years (between September 1988 and April 1998) 1000 liver transplantations were performed on 911 patients (374 females, 537 males) at our hospital. The potential for parenthood existed for 163 women (aged between 16 an 46 years) and 520 men. 14 children were born of 14 women, six pregnancies ended in spontaneous abortion or miscarriage and three other women are now pregnant. Seven men reported paternity of eight children after transplantation. All data were collected prospectively.

Six of the 14 births (42.9%) proceeded normally, but up to three complications developed in the other eight (57.1%). Six women (35.7%) developed hypertension during the pregnancy. There was no case of transplant dysfunction or toxaemia of pregnancy. Half the births were by caesarean section. Premature births occurred in two women (14.3%); four children were underweight (< 2500 g) at birth (28.6%). The seven men, at a mean age of 44 (7-75) months after transplantation, fathered eight children, at present aged between 11 months and 6 years, all of whom have developed normally. The 13 children of the post-transplantation mothers are also without malformation or abnormal development. One child's development is retarded due to a fetal alcohol syndrome resulting from the mother's post-transplantation alcohol abuse during pregnancy. All the patients are well at present and live with their children.

Both men and women can procreate at a relatively low risk to the off-spring. But for this to happen, an informed decision for parenthood must be made by the prospective parent together with her/his partner and the doctor in charge, she/he must be in good physical condition with stable transplant function, and there must be frequent interdisciplinary monitoring during any post-transplantation pregnancy.