THE EUROPEAN PRIMARY HYPEROXALURIA TYPE-1 TRANSPLANT REGISTRY REPORT ON THE RESULTS OF COMBINED LIVER-KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION FOR PRIMARY HYPEROXALURIA 1984-1994

This paper reports on a total of 61 patients receiving 64 liver grafts for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) at 25 centres throughout Europ e between 1984 and 1994 recorded in a central registry. Fifty-seven pa tients received simultaneous kidney grafts and one patient a delayed k idney graft, two patients received isolated liver grafts and a further three patients underwent retransplantation of the liver, a final pati ent receiving a liver alone dying intra-operatively before a planned k idney graft was performed. Results of such liver grafts are excellent, reversing the metabolic defect of PH1. Thirteen grafts have been lost and 10 patients have died, with actuarial graft and patient survival rates of 88% at 1 year and patient survival of 80% at 5 years. Early c ombined liver and kidney grafting appeals to represent the optimal tre atment for patients with PH1, avoiding the adverse effects of a prolon ged period of dialysis and the development of the complications of sys temic oxalosis. The registry will continue to collect and collate data on patients undergoing hepatic transplantation for PH1.