Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Events in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Liver transplant candidates often present with substantial cardiovascular risk factors.
• Post-transplant cardiac morbidity and mortality are significant concerns in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of cardiovascular risk factors in liver transplant recipients.
• To identify predictors of post-transplant cardiac morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 261 patients undergoing liver transplantation (1997-2015).
• Evaluation of cardiovascular events and mortality post-transplantation.
• Analysis of pre- and post-transplant risk factors.

Main Results:

• 28.7% of patients died during a median 82-month follow-up; 17.3% of deaths were cardiovascular.
• Coronary events or revascularization occurred in 9.2% of patients.
• Pre-transplant predictors of mortality included age, Framingham risk score, coronary artery disease, and dyslipidemia. Post-transplant predictors included new-onset hypertension and diabetes.

Conclusions:

• Coronary artery disease is a significant mortality predictor in post-liver transplant veterans.
• While coronary artery disease is a factor, most post-transplant deaths stem from other causes.