Persistent hypersplenism early after liver transplant: the role of splenectomy

Acute thrombocytopenia after liver transplant: role of platelet activation, thrombopoietin deficiency and response to high dose intravenous IgG treatment

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Thrombocytopenia is common after liver transplantation due to platelet sequestration secondary to hypersplenism. The aim of this study was to further investigate the causes of this condition, as well as the response of thrombocytopenia to high dose intravenous immunoglobulins.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 73 patients who underwent liver transplantation. Out of these 73 patients, 27 had severe thrombocytopenia and were treated with high dose intravenous immunoglobulin. Additionally, we retrospectively studied 8 patients undergoing liver transplantation.

RESULTS

Our data suggest that splenomegaly is not the only factor responsible for thrombocytopenia after liver transplantion and two additional phenomena, namely, reduced platelet production due to reduced thrombopoietin levels and sustained platelets activation take part in the pathogenesis of this condition. The infusion of high dose immunoglobulins induced a safe, prompt, complete and persistent resolution of severe thrombocytopenia in more than 70% of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these findings, treatment with high dose intravenous immunoglobulins should be considered in the management of severe thrombocytopenia after liver transplant, although additional randomized trials are warranted.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura following liver transplantation: a case series and review of the literature

Thrombocytopenia is common among liver transplant candidates and recipients. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence and outcome of new-onset immune-mediated thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) following liver transplantation at a single center. Among the 256 liver transplant recipients with an International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition code for thrombocytopenia, 8 cases of new-onset ITP were identified, leading to an overall incidence of 0.7% in 1,105 consecutive liver transplant recipients over a 15-year period. All 8 patients were Caucasian, 5 (63%) were male, and the median age at ITP onset was 54 years (range, 15-63). The median platelet count at presentation was 3,500 cells/mL (range, 1,000-12,000) and liver disease was due to hepatitis C (38%), primary sclerosing cholangitis (38%), and cryptogenic cirrhosis (25%). The median time from transplant to ITP onset was 53.5 months (range, 1.9-173). Three of the 6 patients tested (50%) had cell-bound antiplatelet antibodies, 1 patient had an underlying hematological malignancy, and none of the organ donors had a history of ITP. Corticosteroids and/or immunoglobulin infusions were effective in 4 patients. However, serial rituximab infusions were required in 4 patients with persistent thrombocytopenia, and 3 of them eventually required splenectomy to induce disease remission. At a median follow-up of 19.7 months, 7 long-term survivors remain in remission with a median platelet count of 267,000 cells/mL. In conclusion, new-onset ITP is an infrequent but important cause of severe thrombocytopenia in liver transplant recipients. Corticosteroids and immunoglobulin infusions were effective in 50% while the remainder of patients required rituximab infusions or eventual splenectomy for long-term disease remission.

Splenectomy and preemptive interferon therapy for hepatitis C patients after living-donor liver transplantation

Recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is a major cause of graft failure. We routinely perform preemptive interferon and ribavirin therapy in patients after living-donor liver transplantation indicated for hepatitis C-related cirrhosis. One of the obstacles for the therapy includes blood cytopenia. To overcome this problem, we recently performed splenectomy concurrently with liver transplantation. Thirty-five patients underwent liver transplantation and received preemptive therapy for hepatitis C. They were divided into two groups: those with splenectomy (group A, n = 21) and those without (group B, n = 14). There was no significant difference in the frequency of morbidity between the groups. Platelet counts were well maintained in group A patients during the therapy, and cytopenia led to the discontinuation of the therapy in one group B patient. The results of the preliminary study warrant a randomized control trial to examine the feasibility of splenectomy and preemptive viral therapy during liver transplantation for hepatitis C.

Partial splenic embolization for hypersplenism before and after liver transplantation

Partial splenic embolization (PSE) has been demonstrated to be an effective alternative to splenectomy for patients with hypersplenism. Splenectomy in these patients can be associated with an increased risk of perioperative complications, overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis (OPSS) and mortality. Partial splenic embolization has the advantages of non- operative intervention and resolution of the complications of hypersplenism. We report the use of this technique in patients with portal hypertension and hypersplenism awaiting liver transplant and patients that have undergone othotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) with persistent hypersplenism post-transplant. Six patients--three awaiting liver transplantation and three patients with persistent hypersplenism status post-OLTx--were treated during the period of 1993-99 at the LSUHSC/Willis Knighton Regional Transplant Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three patients were male and three female. All six patients had concomitant thrombocytopenia and neutropenia with platelet counts below 50,000. Patients underwent selective arterial catheterization and embolization via a percutaneous approach with Cook microcoils or PVA particles. The lower pole of the spleen was selectively embolized in all patients to achieve a 30-50% reduction in flow as determined by angiography. Patients were followed with routine computed tomography (CT) scans, platelet and WBC counts for a mean of 26 months in the pre-transplant and 37 months in the post-transplant group. In both groups, all patients had persistent resolution of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia after embolization. In the post-transplant group, one patient had persistent splenomegaly and required splenectomy for pain control. No procedure-related complications occurred in any patient. In this limited review, PSE appears to be a safe and effective treatment of persistent hypersplenism in patients with portal hypertension and those who have undergone OLTx.

Effect of pediatric living-donor liver transplantation on splenomegaly

BACKGROUND

The effect of pediatric partial liver transplantation on hypersplenism has not yet been clarified.

METHODS

Fifty-five consecutive pediatric patients who underwent living-donor liver transplantation were analyzed. The volume of the spleen was measured by computed tomography, and the spleen volume-to-standard spleen volume ratio (R) was calculated in each patient. The platelet counts were examined preoperatively and at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 months after the operation. The rate of the decline in this ratio during 1 year was calculated, and correlations with clinical factors were examined.

RESULTS

The ratio decreased gradually after the operation in all of the patients except for three with an eventful postoperative course. The rate of the reduction in R within 1 year after the operation was well correlated with preoperative R (R(O); P<0.0001), which led to an equation for R at n months after the operation: R(n) =(0.31-0.21R(O) )Ln(3.3n+1)+R(O). The platelet counts increased rapidly in the patients with the uneventful postoperative course.

CONCLUSIONS

The normalization of spleen size can be expected with an uneventful living-donor liver transplantation. The spleen volume decreased more rapidly in patients with a larger spleen.

Functional, life-threatening disorders and splenectomy following liver transplantation

Splenectomy (SPL) in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx) may resolve specific problems related to the procedure itself, in case of functional and life-threatening clinical situations often occurring as a result of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

METHOD

A single-center experience of ten splenectomies in a series of 180 consecutive adult liver transplant patients over a period of 6 yr is reported. The mean patient age was 46.8 +/- 9.5 yr (range 25 57 yr). Indications for SPL were post-operative massive ascitic fluid loss (n = 3), severe thrombocytopenia (n = 3), acute intra-abdominal hemorrhage (n = 2), infarction of the spleen (n = 1), and multiple splenic artery aneurysms (n = 1).

RESULTS

Extreme ascites production due to functional graft congestion disappeared post-SPL, with an improvement of the hepatic and renal functions. SPL was also effective in cases of thrombocytopenia persistence post-LTx, leading to an increase in the platelet count after about 1 wk. Bleeding episodes related to left-sided portal hypertension or trauma were also resolved. The rejection rate during hospitalization was 0%, and no other episodes were recorded in the course of the long-term follow-up. However, sepsis with a fatal outcome occurred in 4 patients, i.e. between 2 and 3 wk post-SPL in three cases and 1 yr after the procedure as a result of pneumococcal infection in the last case. Fatal traumatic cranial injury occurred 3 yr post-LTx in another case. Five patients (50%) are still alive and asymptomatic after a median follow-up period of 36 months.

CONCLUSION

The lowering of the portal flow appears to resolve unexplained post-operative ascitic fluid loss as a result of functional graft congestion following LTx. However, because of the enhanced risk of SPL-related sepsis, a partial splenic embolization (PSE) or a spleno-renal shunt could be used as an alternative procedure because it allows us to preserve the immunological function of the spleen. SPL is indicated in case of post-transplant bleeding due to left-sided portal hypertension and trauma, spleen infarction, and to enable prevention of hemorrhage in liver transplant patients with multiple splenic artery aneurysms. Severe and persistent thrombocytopenia could be treated with PSE. Because the occurrence of fatal sepsis post-SPL is a major complication in LTx, functional disorders, such as ascites and thrombocytopenia, should be treated with a more conservative approach.