Effects of donor age on patient survival in liver transplantation: short-and long-term analysis

This study aim was to investigate an association between donor age and lower recipient survival in liver transplantation.

A total of 178 consecutive patients underwent liver transplantation between 1999 and 2007. Among these patients, 172 liver transplants (donor age: 32.04 +/- 16.66) and 167 recipients were included in the analysis. Mean recipient age was 39.16 +/- 21.61 years (range: 6 mo-71 years) and 90 (53.89%) were males.

Among 172 transplants, 32.9% recipients died during follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 34.37 +/- 20.50 mo. A lower mean recipient survival prevailed from donors older than 50 years (p = .01) at 7-year patient survival. At 6-month and 1-year recipient survival, cut-offs were 50 and 55 years, respectively (p < .05). A significant difference was observed in graft survival from donors older than 30 years (p = .02) and at 6-month and 1-year, cutoffs were 35 and 50 years, respectively (p < .05).

Although the utilization of donors with increased age in liver transplantation offers a new option to increase the number of liver transplants it presents lower survivals. Other factors related to graft loss such as MELD score > 15 and longer CIT (cold ischemia time) should be avoided to reduce the risk of using elderly donor grafts.