Liver transplantation for tyrosinemia

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Abstract
Summary Results of liver transplantation in 10 patients with tyrosinemia are reviewed. The indications for transplantation were: hepatoma in three, acute liver failure in two, and progressive chronic liver disease in five. One patient died during surgery. Of the remaining nine who survived the operation, one died at six months as a result of bronchial aspiration and aspiration pneumonia, and a second transplanted for hepatoma died five months later with metastases. Seven patients are alive 6 months to 6 1/2 years following transplantation. Of these seven patients, six have normal liver function and a good performance status. One is awaiting retransplantation for chronic rejection. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was found either preoperatively or incidentally in five patients, all older than 2 years at the time of their transplant. Four of these are alive and well without evidence of tumor with follow-ups between 3 1/2 and 6 1/2. Four of the five patients less than 2 years of age had hepatocellular dysplasia without evidence of carcinoma on histologic examination of the resected liver. This experience suggests that liver transplantation should be considered seriously for children with hereditary tyrosinemia who are more than 2 years of age because beyond that age the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) increases substantially.