Outcomes of Liver Transplant Recipients With Autoimmune Liver Disease Using Long-Term Dual Immunosuppression Regimen Without Corticosteroid.

Background: Liver transplant (LT) recipients with autoimmune liver disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis) are at increased risk of developing acute cellular rejection (ACR), and in many cases graft failure due to recurrent disease. We describe our experience with dual immunosuppression without steroid maintenance and analyze its effect on disease recurrence; ACR; patient and graft survivals; and complications, such as sepsis and de novo malignancy.

Methods: We included 74 consecutive LT recipients (April 2006 to April 2013) with autoimmune liver disease (primary sclerosing cholangitis, 20; primary biliary cholangitis, 23; autoimmune hepatitis, 31) from a single transplant center.