The indications for and results of liver transplantation

The overall indications for liver transplantations are becoming clearer. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are poor risks and grafting should be done earlier. Results of transplants for primary biliary cirrhosis and well compensated cirrhosis are more encouraging. Transplantations for hepatocellular carcinoma is faced with the problem of high recurrences postoperatively. The presence of hepatitis B in a recipient is no longer a contraindication to grafting since this can be adequately treated with specific immunoglobulin. The latest introduction of Cyclosporin as an immunosuppressant may be of real benefit in liver transplantations.