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New Delhi, April 10, 2020 :
Liver transplantation (LTx) continues to be the only cure for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and liver failure. Researchers have reported performing pre-emptive LTx in PSC patients without liver insufficiency but considered to have a high risk for cholangiocarcinoma.
The current study was conducted to ascertain the differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in these two PSC groups before and after LTx.
In all, 48 patients were included in this study – 16 received transplanted due to increased risk of cholangiocarcinoma without liver insufficiency (the premalignant group) and 32 patients with end-stage liver disease (the symptomatic group).
HRQoL was good after LTx in the premalignant group. The difference was clinically significant compared with the symptomatic group; however, it was not statistically significant. Both groups demonstrated slightly lower mean HRQoL scores after LTx than the age- and gender standardised general population; however, the difference was not clinically important in either group and was found to be statistically significant only in the symptomatic group.
HRQoL did not show a marked decline after LTx in the premalignant PSC group. This group was also shown to cope better than the symptomatic group. Additionally, following LTx, mean HRQoL of the premalignant group is close to that of the age- and gender- standardised general population.
Source: Vannas M, Färkkilä M, Sintonen H, et al. Health-related quality of life before and after liver transplantation in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2020 Mar 19:1-7.
Author : Dr K K Aggarwal, President Confederation of Medical Associations of Asia and Oceania
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