[Relapse of alcohol consumption in liver transplant candidates. Risk factor analysis]

Alcohol relapse after transplantation is a serious concern in transplant centers and is a subject of controversy and debate.

To evaluate the relapse of alcohol ingestion and the eventual associated factors in cirrhotic patients referred for liver transplantation.

A retrospective study comprised of 90 adult patients with liver cirrhosis, listed for transplant. The exclusion criteria were: not having at least 6 months of abstinence and release not approved by the psychology team. The diagnosis of relapse (ingestion of any quantity of alcohol) was done based on the information in the patients histories and those provided by telephone contact.

The rate of relapse was of 18.9%. This corresponded to 14.6% of the total number of men and 62.5% of the total number of women. Race, mean age, classification of hepatic dysfunction, time of alcoholism, quantity of alcohol ingested and the execution of transplant did not show significant correlation to alcohol relapse. The comparison between time of abstinence and relapse had an inversely proportional correlation.

Relapse of alcohol consumption was low. Being of the female gender and having less than 1 year of abstinence has an influence upon alcohol relapse.