Analysis of patients listed for liver transplantation in Shiraz, Iran.

Aim: To analyze records of patients listed for liver transplantation (LT) at our hospital, the first and the largest LT center in Iran.

Methods: We analyzed medical records of patients aged 14 years or older, who were listed for LT for chronic liver disease between 1994 and 2004. Outcome was determined from records or follow-up data.

Results: Among the 480 patients (mean age 39 [SD 13] years; 327 [68.1%] men) listed for LT, common causes of cirrhosis were cryptogenic (143; 29.9%) and hepatitis B (127; 26.5%). Child-Turcott-Pugh (CTP) class distribution of these patients was: A - 37 (7.7%), B - 258 (53.7%) and C - 185 (38.6%). Mean (SD) follow-up duration was 11.4 (11.8) months (range 1-108). One hundred and four (21.7%) patients received LT and 173 (36%) died while awaiting LT. CTP class influenced 1-year (90%, 73% and 55% in class A, B and C, respectively) and 2-year (84%, 48% and 25%, respectively) survival rates. MELD score also influenced survival. Survival was better in patients who underwent LT than in those who continued on the waiting list (p< 0.01).

Conclusion: Only about one-fifth of patients listed for LT in Iran received LT and a large proportion died without LT.