Resolution of Donor Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Liver Transplantation.

A. Posner,¹ W. Twaddell,² S. Hanish,² D. Bruno,² W. Hutson,² L. Hebert,² R. Barth,² J. LaMattina.²

¹University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
²Division of Transplantation, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Meeting: 2016 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: B267

Keywords: Donors, Liver grafts, marginal, Metabolic disease, Obesity

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session B: Liver: MELD, Allocation and Donor Issues (DCD/ECD)

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Sunday, June 12, 2016

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Halls C&D

Purpose: Severe and moderate degrees of donor liver steatosis have traditionally limited the transplantation of these organs. The natural history of successfully transplanted livers with significant degrees of macrosteatosis (MaS) and microsteatosis (MiS) at the time of donation remains incompletely characterized.

Methods: A sample of 29 matched liver transplant donors and recipients were identified. Donor liver biopsies displayed either MaS or MiS ≥ 15%, while all recipients received postoperative liver biopsies for cause. Demographics, BMI, biopsy reports, past medical history, Model For End-Stage Liver Disease, operative characteristics, complications, graft survival, and patient survival were collected. Paired-samples t-tests were conducted to compare percent MaS, MiS, and total steatosis (MaS+MiS) in donor biopsies and recipient postoperative biopsies.

Results: The mean donor percent MaS and MiS were 15.6 (range 0-60) and 41.3 (range 7.5-97.5) respectively. There was a significant difference in percent MaS in donor biopsies (M=15.6, SD=15.9) and in recipient postoperative biopsies (M=0.86, SD=4.56), p < 0.001. There was also a significant difference in percent MiS in donor biopsies (M=41.3, SD=23.4) and in recipient postoperative liver biopsies (M=1.8, SD=8.82), p < 0.001. Finally, there was a significant difference in the total steatosis in donor biopsies (M=54.8, SD=24.48) and in recipient postoperative liver biopsies (M=1.8, SD=8.82), p < 0.001. The mean number of days postoperatively that recipient biopsies demonstrated resolution of MaS and MiS was 116 (range 4-384). Full resolution of MaS and MiS was observed in all but two recipients, who had biopsies only 3 and 14 days postoperatively.

Conclusion: High degrees of MaS, MiS, and total steatosis in donor livers resolve in recipients following LT. The phenomenon of resolution of donor NAFLD following LT has not been previously characterized. Insight into the mechanisms responsible could lead to therapeutic targets for treating NAFLD.

CITATION INFORMATION: Posner A, Twaddell W, Hanish S, Bruno D, Hutson W, Hebert L, Barth R, LaMattina J. Resolution of Donor Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Liver Transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2016;16 (suppl 3).

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Posner A, Twaddell W, Hanish S, Bruno D, Hutson W, Hebert L, Barth R, LaMattina J. Resolution of Donor Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Following Liver Transplantation. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2016; 16 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/resolution-of-donor-non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease-following-liver-transplantation/. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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