Analysis of marginal donor parameters in liver transplantation for primary biliary cirrhosis

The shortage in cadaveric donor livers is pushing the transplant centers to expand the pool by using "marginal" donors. Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) remains an important indication for transplantation. We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a well-defined group of patients with PBC where 301 consecutive donor-PBC recipient pairs transplanted were analyzed to identify donor and operative factors influencing recipient outcome. Mean follow-up was 56 months. The 1-, 3- and 5-year actuarial patient and graft survival was 93.97%, 90.64%, and 81.75%, and 85.49%, 82.57%, and 75.21%, respectively. Factors showing influence in decreased total patient survival were recipient old age (P = 0.003) and low recipient albumin (P = 0.01). However, the only variables showing an association with decreased patient survival within 90 days are old donor age (P = 0.002) and high donor body weight (P = 0.03) or high body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.055). Cold ischaemic time (CIT) of 18 hours showed statistical significance in patient survival (P = 0.025). Obesity did have a significant adverse impact on survival compared with normal or overweight donors (BMI < 30), decreasing survival by 50% at 5 years. In conclusion, this study of several factors considered "marginal" for transplantation in a recipient population with predictable liver disease (PBC), donor BMI and age were shown to be associated with decreased graft and patient survival.