Impact of Non-Malignant Portal Vein Thrombosis in Recipients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Compared to Other Transplant Indications

TL;DR

The study finds that portal vein thrombosis at the time of liver transplant is linked to worse outcomes for patients with and without metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease, especially when using DCD grafts.

Contribution

The study compares the impact of portal vein thrombosis on liver transplant outcomes in MASLD and non-MASLD recipients, focusing on DCD grafts.

Findings

PVT at transplant is associated with higher mortality, graft failure, and death-censored graft failure in both MASLD and non-MASLD groups.

MASLD recipients with PVT who received DCD grafts had significantly higher all-cause mortality compared to non-MASLD recipients without PVT.

No significant differences in graft failure or death-censored graft failure were observed between MASLD and non-MASLD groups with PVT.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with an increased risk of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), which may negatively affect post-liver transplant (LT) outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of PVT on post-LT outcomes in MASLD versus non-MASLD recipients and assess outcomes in MASLD patients with PVT who received donation after circulatory death (DCD) grafts. Methods: Using the UNOS database, we analyzed adult LT recipients from 2002 to 2022. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression models were used to assess one-year post-LT outcomes. Results: Among 46,933 LT recipients, 20% had MASLD (15% PVT prevalence) and 80% had non-MASLD etiologies (9% PVT prevalence). Overall, 3051 recipients (6.5%) received DCD grafts. PVT at the time of transplant was associated with significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality, graft failure, and death-censored graft failure (DCGF) in both MASLD and non-MASLD groups (p < 0.05), although no significant differences were observed between the two groups. In the DCD subgroup, MASLD recipients with PVT had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-MASLD recipients without PVT (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.24, 95% CI 1.17–4.28, p = 0.01), but no differences were observed for graft failure or DCGF. Conclusions: PVT at the time of transplant is associated with poorer survival in MASLD and non-MASLD recipients. No difference was found between the two groups. In candidates receiving DCD grafts, the presence of PVT at time of transplant was associated with a marked increase in mortality risk, although this finding requires further validation in larger cohorts.

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