Dermatological signs in liver transplant recipients

Complications in Post-Liver Transplant Patients

Liver transplantation (LT) is the treatment of choice for liver failure and selected cases of malignancies. Transplantation activity has increased over the years, and indications for LT have been widened, leading to organ shortage. To face this condition, a high selection of recipients with prioritizing systems and an enlargement of the donor pool were necessary. Several authors published their case series reporting the results obtained with the use of marginal donors, which seem to have progressively improved over the years. The introduction of in situ and ex situ machine perfusion, although still strongly debated, and better knowledge and treatment of the complications may have a role in achieving better results. With longer survival rates, a significant number of patients will suffer from long-term complications. An extensive review of the literature concerning short- and long-term outcomes is reported trying to highlight the most recent findings. The heterogeneity of the behaviors within the different centers is evident, leading to a difficult comparison of the results and making explicit the need to obtain more consent from experts.

De Novo Skin Neoplasms in Liver-Transplanted Patients: Single-Center Prospective Evaluation of 105 Cases

Background and Objectives: Solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are notably considered at risk for developing cutaneous malignancies. However, most of the existing literature is focused on kidney transplant-related non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). Conflicting data have been published so far on NMSC incidence among liver transplant recipients (LTRs), and whether LTRs really should be considered at lower risk remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to prospectively collect data on the incidence of cutaneous neoplasms in an LTR cohort. Materials and Methods: All LTRs transplanted at the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit of Modena University Hospital from October 2015 to June 2021 underwent a post-transplant periodic skin check at the Dermatology Unit according to our institutional integrated care pathway. Data on the presence of cutaneous malignant and premalignant lesions were collected at every timepoint. Results: A total of 105 patients were enrolled in the present study. Nearly 15% of the patients developed cutaneous cancerous and/or precancerous lesions during the follow-up period. Almost half of the skin cancerous lesions were basal cell carcinomas. Actinic keratoses (AKs) were observed in six patients. Four patients developed in situ squamous cell carcinomas, and one patient was diagnosed with stage I malignant melanoma. Otherwise, well-established risk factors for the occurrence of skin tumors, such as skin phototype, cumulative sun exposure, and familial history of cutaneous neoplasms, seemed to have no direct impact on skin cancer occurrence in our cohort, as well as an immunosuppressive regimen and the occurrence of non-cutaneous neoplasms. Conclusions: Close dermatological follow-up is crucial for LTRs, and shared protocols of regular skin checks in this particular subset of patients are needed in transplant centers.

De Novo Malignancies After Liver Transplantation: Experience of a High-Volume Center

PURPOSE

Patient care, newer immunosuppressive medications, and advances in surgical technique, have resulted in significant prolongation of survival after liver transplantation in recent years. However, as life expectancy increased and the early mortality rates have decreased, different problems have evolved due to chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate patients who were transplanted and then developed de novo malignancies, in terms of the type of malignancies and the follow-up period.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 2814 patients who received liver transplantation between 2008 and 2020 in Inonu University Liver Transplant Institute. In total, the data of 23 patients were evaluated retrospectively.

RESULTS

Non-melanoma skin cancer was the most common de novo malignancy (21.7%), followed by gynecological cancers (17.3%). The interval between the time of transplantation until the development of de novo malignancy was 36 (6-75) months. The median follow-up period after the diagnoses of the de novo malignancies was 4.11 years. One, 3-, 5-year survival rates of patients after the diagnoses of de novo malignancies were 69.6%, 56.5%, and 41.9%; respectively.

CONCLUSION

Non-melanotic skin cancers were the most common de novo cancers in liver transplant recipients. A strict surveillance program is very important in the follow-up of liver transplant recipients.

Skin conditions in liver transplant recipients in a Singapore academic medical center: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Liver transplant recipients are at lifelong risk of immunosuppression-related cutaneous complications, such as malignancy and infection.

Objective

Our study aims to assess the epidemiology of dermatologic conditions among liver transplant recipients in an academic medical center in Singapore.

Methods

Medical records of liver transplant recipients on follow-up with gastroenterology and dermatology departments at the Singapore General Hospital between 2006 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. A literature review was subsequently performed on the keywords “liver transplant” and “dermatology.”

Results

A total of 99 liver transplant recipients were identified in this study. Sixty-nine patients (70%) had at least 1 dermatologic condition. Inflammatory skin conditions were the most common (53%), followed by cutaneous infection (36%) and benign cutaneous tumors (30%). Malignant and premalignant lesions were the least common skin conditions reported (10%). Our study results concurred with many other studies reported worldwide, demonstrating a low cutaneous malignancy burden after liver transplantation.

Limitations

The study included a small population size in a single center and did not have a pre-existing protocol for pretransplant dermatologic surveillance.

Conclusion

Although the incidence of skin cancer after liver transplant in Singapore is low, the patients will benefit from long-term dermatology surveillance, given the long-term risks of infection and malignant skin conditions.