Follow-up after liver transplantation for primary sclerosing cholangitis: Effects on survival, quality of life, and colitis

Background: Except for primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholan gitis (PSC) is now the commonest indication for liver transplantation in Sw eden. There are several specific problems related to post-transplantation l ife in these patients, Methods: We analyzed a 10-year cohort of 47 patients transplanted at our center. Results: Incidental biliary carcinoma was diag nosed in 13%, with a 2-year survival of only 17%, compared with 70% in the other patients. The 2-year survival has improved considerably (to 82%) in r ecent years. Quality of life was much or slightly improved in 80%. The coli tis was much or slightly improved in 65%, with some deterioration in only 6 %. No patient developed colonic carcinoma. Previous biliary tract surgery w as identified as a risk factor for a worse 1-year mortality. Conclusions: L iver transplantation for PSC is now associated with a high survival rate an d an improvement in the quality of life and course of ulcerative colitis. P revious biliary tract surgery is a risk factor for non-survival.