Long-term outcome of combined liver-kidney transplantation: a single-center experience in China.

Background/aims: To evaluate patient survival with combined liver-kidney transplantation (CLKT) and to identify factors of death in these patients.

Methodology: Among 554 cases of liver transplantations (LTs) performed between January 1999 and October 2006, there were 19 cases (3.43%) of CLKT recipients. To compare the patient survival, 50 matched LT patients out of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Furthermore, causes of death in CLKT patients were investigated.

Results: Within a mean follow-up of 25.2 months (range 1-96 months), 7 CLKT patients had died (mortality: 36.8%). There were 4 (21.1%) that died in hospital within 1 month, and 3 late mortality cases (deceased after hospital discharge). Actuarial survival was 73.7% at 1 year, 59.5% at 3 years, and 59.5% at 5 years. Cumulative patient survival was significantly worse among CLKT patients compared with LT patients. After excluding patients who died during the first month in the 2 groups, cumulative patient survivals were comparable between the 2 groups. The survival rate in CLKT patients was 87.5% at 1 year, 70.7% at 3 years, and 70.7% at 5 years.

Conclusions: CLKT has relatively high hospital mortality as compared to LT. Beyond the hospital discharge, however, the long-term survival does not differ from LT.