[Risk factors associated with invasive fungal infection in orthotopic liver transplantation].

Background And Objective: Invasive fungal infection (IFI) in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) influences survival, hence the need for risk predictors. We have determined the incidence and risk factors associated with invasive fungal infection in OLT.

Patients And Method: 165 OLTs performed in 152 receptors from May 1994 to May 1998 at the Hospital Juan Canalejo (La Coruña), were included in the study. Pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical variables were evaluated. Those variables that independently influenced the development of IFI were determined by multivariate logistic regression.

Results: IFI presented in 7 cases /152 patients (4.6%). In the univariate analysis, IFI was associated with pre-transplantation serum albumin, the number of blood units transfused, mechanical ventilation (OR = 7.56), re-transplantation (OR = 11.10) cytomegalovirus infection (OR = 8.35) and pre-transplantation GOT. In the multivariate analysis, the independent variables predicting IFI were the number of blood units transfused (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.05-1.38), serum albumin pre-transplantation (OR = 0.06; 95% CI, 0.007-0.537) and re-transplantation (HR = 432; 95% CI, 9.80-19 058).

Conclusions: Pre-transplantation serum albumin, a clear predictor, the number of blood units transfused and re-transplantation are all independent predictors of IFI.