Current Scenario Of Liver Transplantation For Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis – A Narrative Review

Abstract

Despite the fact that alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) has long been a significant part of the liver disease landscape, it was previously overshadowed by chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Nonetheless, since the frequency of HCV has decreased as a result of extremely efficient antiviral treatment, focus has switched to the growing burden of ALD in the United States (US). Advanced ALD, including acute alcoholic hepatitis (AH) and alcohol-associated cirrhosis, is on the rise in the United States, with young individuals and women seeing the greatest increase in mortality attributable to ALD. [1,2] Unsurprisingly, rates of alcohol consumption, especially binge drinking and alcohol use disorders (AUD), have risen dramatically in the last decade, with women's rates alone jumping by 80 percent, resulting in increased mortality across most of the United States. [3,4] As a result, ALD has become the most prevalent reason for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States, with acute AH LT rates also increasing. [5] The first pilot study of LT for AH was published in 2011, and the results were positive for highly chosen individuals with AH and recent drinking. [6] Despite the lack of guidelines on candidate screening, counselling, post-operative care, long-term follow-up, and other standard practices, LT for AH grew increasingly popular as a result.