Outcome of Colonoscopic Screening in Potential Liver Transplant Candidates.

BACKGROUND: Screening for neoplastic lesions is mandatory as a part of the evaluation process of potential candidates for liver transplant (LT). This work aimed at identifying the main findings in screening colonoscopy and their risk factors. METHODS: Endoscopic and pathologic findings of the biopsied lesions of 311 potential candidates for living donor liver transplant were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Colorectal polyps (8.7%) were the most common colonoscopic finding, of which 4.18% were diagnosed as adenomas. Other findings included hemorrhoids (7.7%), portal hypertensive colopathies (3.5%), angiomatous malformations (2.6%), rectal varices (1.6%), and diverticulosis (1.6%). The univariate analysis revealed that the prevalence of colonic adenoma was significant in patients 50 years and older (P = .03; odds ratio, 1.178; 95% CI, 1.016-1.365) and in patients who had hepatocellular carcinoma (P = .043; odds ratio, 6.5; 95% CI, 1.002-42.172). In the multivariate analysis, age was found to be the single best predictor of the presence of adenoma (P = .044; odds ratio, 1.178; 95% CI, 1.005-1.382). CONCLUSION: We can conclude that a screening colonoscopy prior to liver donor liver transplant should be performed at least in every LT candidate 50 years or older. Colonic polyps were the most common findings on screening colonoscopy prior to LT.

Assessment of health-related quality of life in Egyptian HCV-infected recipients after living donor liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding issues pertaining to quality of life is essential for any disease, particularly in recipients of liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of liver transplantation on Egyptian recipients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: A prospective study carried out at the Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation (Cairo, Egypt), including 35 recipients for the evaluation of HRQOL using short form 36 score (Arabic version) and Beck Depression Inventory scores pre-transplantation and 1 and 6 months afterwards. RESULTS: The mean age of the recipients was 49.27 ± 8.16 years. Among them, 17 patients were highly educated. A statistically significant improvement in all dimensions of their HRQOL was observed after liver transplantation. Their physical functioning was 45.00 ± 34.34 before liver transplantation while after 1 and 6 months it was 57.50 ± 20.66 and 74.83 ± 19.27, respectively (P < 0.001). All 17 patients completed their first year after transplantation, showing a statistically significant improvement in all dimensions of their HRQOL one year after liver transplantation except that in mental health, role limitation due to emotional health emotional and social functioning domains. CONCLUSION: HRQOL is an important aspect of liver transplantation that should not be neglected.

Donor rejection before living donor liver transplantation: causes and cost effective analysis in an egyptian transplant center.

BACKGROUND: In the living donor liver transplant setting, the preoperative assessment of potential donors is important to ensure the donor safety. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify causes and costs of living liver-donors rejection in the donation process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2010 to June 2012, all potential living liver donors for 66 liver transplant candidates were screened at the Ain Shams Center for Organ Transplantation. Potential donors were evaluated in 3 phases, and their data were reviewed to determine the causes and at which phase the donors were rejected. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety two potential living liver donors, including 157 (81.7%) males, were screened for 66 potential recipients. Of these, 126 (65.6%) were disqualified for the donation. The causes of rejection were classified as surgical (9.5 %) or medical (90.5 %). Five donors (3.9 %) were rejected due to multiple causes. Factor V Leiden mutation was detected in 29 (23 %) rejected donors (P = 0.001), 25 (19.8 %) donors had positive results for hepatitis serology (P = 0.005), and 16 (12.7 %) tested positive for drug abuse. Portal vein trifurcation (n = 9, 7.1%) and small size liver graft estimated by CT volumetric analysis (n = 6, 4.8 %) were the main surgical causes which precluded the donation. CONCLUSIONS: Among potential Egyptian living liver donors, Factor V Leiden mutation was a significant cause for live donor rejection. A stepwise approach to donor assessment was found to be cost-effective.