Assessing the Time-Dependent Impact of Performance Status on Outcomes After Liver Transplantation

What is the crux of successful living-donor liver transplantation for recipients aged 70 and beyond?

Aim

There is limited evidence regarding the feasibility of living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for patients aged over 70. The aims of this study were to assess postoperative outcomes in elderly recipients and to ascertain the potential feasibility and acceptability of LDLT.

Methods

Data were collected from 762 recipients, including 26 in the elderly group (aged ≥70) and 736 in the younger group (aged <70), and reviewed even by propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

No significant differences were observed in the frequency of postoperative complications between the two groups. Additionally, both groups exhibited a comparable 30-day mortality rate after LDLT (3.9% in both) and similar hospital stays (36 days vs. 40 days). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival rates in the elderly group were 92.0%, which was comparable to those in the younger group (p = 0.517), as confirmed by PSM. Notably, all donors for elderly patients were the children of the recipients, with an average age of 41.6 years, and grafts from donors aged ≥50 years were not utilized, signifying the use of high-quality grafts. Our inclusion criterion for elderly recipients was strictly defined as an ECOG-PS score of 0-2, which played a pivotal role in achieving favorable postoperative outcomes.

Conclusion

LDLT can be performed safely for elderly patients aged 70 years or older, provided they have a preserved PS and receive high-quality grafts from younger donors, inevitably all children of elderly recipients. This approach yields acceptable long-term outcomes. Consequently, age alone should not serve as an absolute contraindication for LDLT.

The impact of Karnofsky performance status on prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Functional performance as measured by the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale has been linked to the outcomes of liver transplant patients; however, the effect of KPS on the outcomes of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) liver transplant population has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate the association between pre-transplant KPS score and long-term outcomes in HCC patients listed for liver transplantation.

METHODS

Adult HCC candidates listed on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2017 were grouped into group I (KPS 80-100%, n = 8,379), group II (KPS 50-70%, n = 8,091), and group III (KPS 10-40%, n = 1,256) based on percentage KPS score at listing. Survival was compared and multivariable analysis was performed to identify independent predictors.

RESULTS

Patients with low KPS score had a higher risk of removal from the waiting list. The 5-year intent-to-treat survival was 57.7% in group I, 53.2% in group II and 46.7% in group III (P < 0.001). The corresponding overall survival was 77.6%, 73.7% and 66.3% in three groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that KPS was an independent predictor of intent-to-treat survival (P < 0.001, reference group I; HR 1.19 [95%CI 1.07-1.31] for group II, P = 0.001; HR 1.63 [95%CI 1.34-1.99] for group III, P < 0.001) and overall survival(P < 0.001, reference group I; HR 1.16 [95%CI 1.05-1.28] for group II, P = 0.004; HR 1.53 [95%CI 1.26-1.87] for group III, P < 0.001). The cumulative 5-year recurrence rates was higher in group III patients (7.4%), compared with 5.2% in group I and 5.5% in group II (P = 0.037). However, this was not significant in the competing regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Low pre-transplant KPS score is associated with inferior long-term survival in liver transplant HCC patients, but is not significantly associated with post-transplant tumor recurrence.

Albumin-Based Liver Reserve Models vs. MELD 3.0 in Prognostic Prediction for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Renal Insufficiency

The severity of liver functional reserve is an important prognostic predictor in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The albumin-bilirubin (ALBI), easy (EZ)-ALBI, platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI), platelet-albumin (PAL) score, and MELD 3.0 score are used to evaluate the severity of liver dysfunction. However, their prognostic role in HCC patients, specifically with renal insufficiency (RI), is unclear. We aimed to investigate the predictive accuracy of the five models in these patients. A total of 1120 newly diagnosed HCC patients with RI were enrolled. A multivariate Cox proportional analysis was used to identify independent predictors associated with survival. In the Cox model, older age, an α-fetoprotein ≥20 ng/mL, vascular invasion, a medium and high tumor burden score, poor performance status, a higher ALBI grade, an EZ-ALBI grade, a PALBI grade, a PAL grade, and MELD 3.0 score were all independently associated with decreased overall survival (all p < 0.001). Among the five liver reserve models, the ALBI grade is the best surrogate marker to represent liver functional reserve in terms of outcome prediction. The albumin-based liver reserve models (ALBI, EZ-ALBI, PALBI, and PAL) and MELD 3.0 are all feasible prognostic markers to indicate liver injury, specifically in HCC patients with RI. Among them, the ALBI grade is the most robust tool for survival prediction in these patients.

Effect of Preoperative Sarcopenia, Malnutrition and Functional status on Postoperative Morbidity Following Liver Transplantation

INTRODUCTION

The effect of sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on immediate post liver transplantation outcome is not well established. Most studies on sarcopenia are related to 1 and 3-year mortality. Studies evaluating the effect of malnutrition are at least a decade old.

PROJECT AIMS

We evaluated the effect of preoperative sarcopenia, malnutrition, and functional status on postoperative length of hospital and ICU stay, incidence of complications, and mortality.

DESIGN

In this prospective study conducted on living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia and malnutrition were identified using the psoas muscle thickness to height and the Royal Free Hospital- Nutritional Prioritizing Tool respectively. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was noted. Postoperatively, length-of-hospital stay, ICU stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and incidence of postoperative complications were noted.

RESULTS

Hospital and ICU length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were greater in sarcopenic versus non-sarcopenic patients (35.9 (14.6) versus 26.7 (10.7) days, P  =  0.02; 12.9 (4.8) versus 9.6 (3.8) days, P  =  0.02 and 8 [5,23] versus 5 [4,7] days, P  =  0.01 respectively). The incidence of acute kidney injury was higher in patients with sarcopenia (53.3% vs 19.4%, P  =  0.02). Patients with malnutrition and repeated hospitalizations had higher ICU stays but hospital length of stay duration of mechanical ventilation or the incidence of postoperative complications were not affected. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score did not affect postoperative outcome.

CONCLUSION

In living donor liver transplant recipients, sarcopenia increased hospital and ICU stays, and duration of mechanical ventilation postoperatively. Malnutrition increased ICU stays.

The Impact of Performance Status on Length of Hospital Stay and Clinical Complications Following Liver Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Impaired pretransplant performance status (PS) is associated with chronic liver disease (CLD). We studied its impact on hospital length of stay (LOS), complications, and readmissions in the first year after liver transplantation.

METHODS

The Standard National Liver Transplant Registry was linked to a hospital administrative dataset, and all first-time liver transplant recipients with CLD aged ≥18 years in England were identified. A modified 3-level Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score was used to assess PS. Linear- and logistic-fixed effect regression models were used to estimate the effect of specific posttransplant complications and readmissions in the first year after transplantation.

RESULTS

Six thousand nine hundred sixty-eight recipients were included. Impaired PS was associated with an increased LOS in the initial posttransplant period (comparing ECOG 1-3, adjusted difference 7.2 d; 95% confidence [CI], 4.8-9.6; P < 0.001) and in time spent on the ITU (adjusted difference 1.2 d; 95% CI, 0.4-2.0; P < 0.001). There was no significant association between ECOG status and total LOS of later admissions (adjusted difference, 2.5 d; 95% CI, -0.4-5.5; P = 0.23). Those with a poorer ECOG status had an increased incidence of renal failure (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0; P = 0.004) and infection (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.4; P = 0.02) but not an increased incidence of readmission (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.9-1.5; P = 0.13).

CONCLUSIONS

In liver transplant recipients with CLD, impaired pretransplant PS is associated with prolonged LOS in the immediate posttransplant period but not with LOS of later admissions in the first year after transplantation. Impaired PS increased the risk of renal failure and infection.

Physiologic Reserve Assessment and Application in Clinical and Research Settings in Liver Transplantation

Physiologic reserve is an important prognostic indicator. Because of its complexity, no single test can measure an individual's physiologic reserve. Frailty is the phenotypic expression of decreased reserve and portends poor prognosis. Both subjective and objective tools have been used to measure one or more components of physiologic reserve. Most of these tools appear to predict pretransplant mortality, but only some predict posttransplant survival. Incorporation of these measures of physiologic reserve in the clinical and research settings including prediction models are reviewed, and the applicability to patient-related outcomes are discussed. Commonly used tools, in patients with cirrhosis, that have been associated with clinical outcomes were reviewed. The strength of subjective tools lies in low-cost, wide availability, and quick assessments at the bedside. A disadvantage of these tools is the manipulative capacity, restricting their value in allocation processes. The strength of objective tests lies in objective measurements and the ability to measure change. The disadvantages include complexity, increased cost, and limited accessibility. Heterogeneity in the definitions and tools used has prevented further advancement or a clear role in transplant assessment. Consistent use of objective tools, including the 6-minute walk test, gait speed, Liver Frailty Index, or Short Physical Performance Battery, are recommended in clinical and research settings.