Orthotopic liver transplantation in patients 60 years of age and older

Cyclosporine appears to have abrogated age as a contraindication to kidney transplantation in the elderly, although it is unclear whether this is true for other types of solid organ transplantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of liver transplant recipients who were 60 years of age and older (n = 23) versus recipients of primary transplants who were 18 to 59 years of age (n = 84). Indications in recipients over 60 included alcoholism (6), postnecrotic cirrhosis (6), cancer (4), primary biliary cirrhosis (3), sclerosing cholangitis (2), and one patient with polycystic liver disease. There were no important differences in the initial transplant hospitalization or the incidence of infection and rejection between the two groups. No patient in the over-60 population required retransplantation. Actuarial patient survival is 83% at 2 years for recipients 60 years of age and above compared to 76% patient survival in adult recipients who are under the age of 60. Liver transplant recipients over the age of 60 years have excellent patient and graft survival and the same postoperative morbidity as recipients who are under 60 years of age. Therefore, advanced age does not appear to be a contraindication to orthotopic liver transplantation.