Simultaneous liver-kidney transplant for combined renal and hepatic end-stage disease

After the first combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) reported by Margreiter in 1984, it became clear that renal failure was no longer an absolute contraindication.

Our goal was to assess our results with combined liver-kidney transplant. Among 875 liver transplants performed between May 1986 and October 2002, there were 17 cases (1.96%) of combined liver-kidney transplant.

With a mean follow-up of 42.2+/-29 months (range, 1-90), six patients had died (mortality: 37.5%). There were four (25%) operative in-hospital deaths, and two late mortality cases (beyond the month 6 after hospital discharge). The causes were sepsis (four cases, three postoperative and one in later follow-up), refractory heart failure (one postoperative), and recurrent liver disease (HCV-induced severe recurrence) during follow-up one). Actuarial survival (calculated for those who survived the postoperative period) was 80%, 71%, and 60% at 12, 36, and 60 months. Actuarial mean survival time was 60 months (95%IC:47-78). Neither the sex, the UNOS status, the etiology of liver disease, the etiology of renal failure, the type of hepatectomy (piggy back vs others) or the type of immunosuppression (P=.83) were related to long-term survival according to the log-rank test. A control group of 48 patients was constructed with subjects who underwent liver transplantation immediately before or after the combined transplant. A total (two cases after the CLKT and one case prior to). There were no differences in survival.

Combined liver-kidney transplant represents a proper therapeutic option for patients with simultaneously failing organs based on long- and short-term outcomes.