Clin Mol Hepatol.  2023 Feb;29(Suppl):S286-S301. 10.3350/cmh.2022.0392.

Liver transplantation for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: indications and post-transplant management

• Battistella S
• D’Arcangelo F
• Grasso M
• Zanetto A
• Gambato M
• Germani G
• Senzolo M
• Russo FP
• Burra P

• KMID: 2539809
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2022.0392

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the fastest growing indication to liver transplantation (LT) in Western Countries, both for end stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is often expression of a systemic metabolic syndrome; therefore, NAFLD/NASH patients require a multidisciplinary approach for a proper pre-surgical evaluation, which is important to achieve a post-transplant outcome comparable to that of other indications to LT. NAFLD/NASH patients are also at higher risk of post-transplant cardiovascular events, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, renal impairment and recurrent NASH. Lifestyle modifications, included diet and physical activity, are key to improve survival and quality of life after transplantation. A tailored immunosuppressive regimen may be proposed in selected patients. Development of new drugs for the treatment of recurrent NASH is awaited.

Keyword

NAFLD; NASH; Liver transplantation; Cardiovascular risk; Metabolic syndrome