Korean J Nephrol.  2007 Jan;26(1):116-121.

Four Cases of Combined Liver-Kidney Transplantation

• Han SW
• Kim JY
• Kim SH
• Choi BS
• Yang CW
• Kim YS
• Moon IS
• Kim DG
• Koh YB
• Bang BK

Abstract

Combined liver-kidney transplantation (LKT) has been increasingly performed procedure for end-stage liver and kidney disease. We experienced four cases of LKT. All patients were affected by viral hepatopathy. There were three patients of hepatocellular carcinoma, treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization or chemotherapy and one cirrhotic patient. The causes of chronic renal failure were polycystic kidney disease in one patient, glomerulonephropathies in two, and diabetes mellitus in one. Three of them were on dialysis treatment. All patients were selected based on blood group identity and negative cross-match before LKT. There was no post-operative surgical complication or acute rejection. At the mean follow-up of 37 months after LKT, all patients showed normal hepatic and renal function except for one case of biopsy-proven tacrolimus nephrotoxicity. Seroconversions of HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV-DNA were achieved in hepatitis B positive patients. However, HCV-RNA was sustained in hepatitis C positive patient after LKT. Alpha-fetoprotein was normalized in every HCC patient. Combined liver-kidney transplantation can be a proper therapeutic procedure for the patient with liver failure and irreversible renal disease, and it can be done safely and effectively.

Keyword

Transplantation; Liver; Kidney

MeSH Terms

alpha-Fetoproteins
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Diabetes Mellitus
Dialysis
Drug Therapy
Follow-Up Studies
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis C
Humans
Kidney
Kidney Diseases
Kidney Failure, Chronic
Liver
Liver Failure
Polycystic Kidney Diseases
Tacrolimus
Transplantation
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B e Antigens
Tacrolimus
alpha-Fetoproteins