Published online Apr 14, 2016. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i14.3725
Peer-review started: December 24, 2015
First decision: January 13, 2016
Revised: January 26, 2016
Accepted: February 20, 2016
Article in press: February 21, 2016
Published online: April 14, 2016
Processing time: 98 Days and 17.9 Hours
Alcoholic liver disease is an established, yet controversial, indication for liver transplantation. Although an abstinence period of up to 6 mo prior to transplantation is mandatory, alcohol relapse after transplantation is a common event. In case of recurrence of heavy drinking, graft survival is significantly impaired. Guidelines on detection and surveillance of alcohol consumption in this patient cohort are lacking. This review summarizes the challenge of patient selection as well as the current knowledge on established and novel alcohol biomarkers with special focus on liver transplant candidates and recipients.
Core tip: Currently, consensus statements on alcohol screening prior to and after liver transplantation are lacking. Routinely applied alcohol markers have certain limitations in the setting of liver disease and end-stage cirrhosis. Novel alcohol biomarkers, such as ethyl glucuronide in urine and hair as well as phosphatidylethanol, however, show promise to significantly improve the selection and surveillance of patients within the liver transplant setting.