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World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2013; 19(48): 9198-9208
Published online Dec 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9198
Published online Dec 28, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i48.9198
Long-term survival after liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease
Paula Iruzubieta, Javier Crespo, Emilio Fábrega, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Formación e Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IFIMAV), 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
Author contributions: Iruzubieta P, Crespo J and Fábrega E contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Emilio Fábrega, MD, PhD, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Instituto de Formación e Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IFIMAV), Avenida Valdecilla s/n, 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain. digfge@humv.es
Telephone: +73-442-202544 Fax: +73-442-202544
Received: September 24, 2013
Revised: October 26, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: December 28, 2013
Processing time: 112 Days and 19.6 Hours
Revised: October 26, 2013
Accepted: November 12, 2013
Published online: December 28, 2013
Processing time: 112 Days and 19.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Transplanted alcoholic liver disease (ALD) patients who relapse have an increased long-term mortality due to cardiovascular pathologies and the onset of de novo neoplasms, including lung and upper aerodigestive tract cancer. Nearly 40% of ALD recipients resume smoking and resume it early post-liver transplantation (LT). Therefore, our pre-and post-LT follow-up efforts regarding alcoholic liver disease should be focused not only on alcoholic relapse but also on treating and avoiding other modifiable risk factors such as tobacco. The psychiatric and psychosocial pre-LT evaluation and the post-LT follow-up with physicians, psychiatrists and addiction specialists are important for reversing these problems.