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Liver Transplantation for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

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Autoimmune Liver Diseases

Abstract

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is one of the most common indications for adult liver transplantation in both Western countries and Japan. Recently, the number of liver transplantations for PBC has shown a decreasing trend in Europe and the United States, likely due to advances in medical therapies using ursodeoxycholic acid. However, liver transplantation remains the sole life-saving treatment method for PBC that has progressed to end-stage cirrhosis. Additionally, liver transplantation is occasionally indicated due to declines in the quality of life arising from severe cutaneous pruritus or chronic fatigue in PBC patients. The appropriate timing of the transplantation is calculated using several different prognosis prediction models. The results of liver transplantations for PBC have been excellent compared with those for other diseases, with all studies reporting 5-year survival rates higher than 70 %. Moreover, differences have not been observed between the results of transplants from living donors and those from deceased donors. PBC can recur in the graft liver after transplantation, but this phenomenon is poorly understood, including its frequency, risk factors, and long-term prognosis.

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Conflicts of Interest

The authors of this paper report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan

    Takuya Genda & Takafumi Ichida

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  1. Takuya Genda
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  2. Takafumi Ichida
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Correspondence to Takuya Genda .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Gastroenterology & Rheumatology, Fukushima Medical University of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan

    Hiromasa Ohira

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Genda, T., Ichida, T. (2014). Liver Transplantation for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. In: Ohira, H. (eds) Autoimmune Liver Diseases. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54789-1_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54789-1_21

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  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54788-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54789-1

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