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Heterogeneity in Center Practices in Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in the United States

N. Lim1, A. Kwong2, S. Jafri3, M. Jesse3, M. Kriss4, K. Nair5, A. Pillai6, A. Shingina7, A. Desai8

1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 2Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 3Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, 4University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, 5Community Health Network, Indianapolis, IN, 6University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 7Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 8Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 422

Keywords: Alcohol, Liver transplantation, Psychiatric comorbidity, Psychosocial

Topic: Clinical Science » Liver » 55 - Liver: Recipient Selection

Session Information

Session Name: Recipient Selection

Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract

Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Session Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm

 Presentation Time: 4:10pm-4:20pm

Location: Hynes Room 312

*Purpose: Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is now the leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States (US), particularly since LT has emerged as a treatment option for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH). It is not clear how centers are managing the additional medical and psychosocial issues associated with ALD.

*Methods: We conducted a national web-based survey of medical directors of LT centers in the US to identify center-level details on peri-LT 1) management of alcohol use disorder (AUD), 2) alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AAC), and 3) severe AAH.

*Results: Of the 117 adult LT centers, 100 (86%) unique responses were collected representing all OPTN regions with 67% University-based. 71% of centers reported having transplant psychiatry available; 79% addiction medicine; 87% psychology; 60% inpatient and 67% outpatient rehabilitation/treatment programs (Table). For LT for AAC, 70% of responding centers reported no minimum sobriety requirement; 21% required at least 6 months of sobriety. 100% of centers used alcohol biomarkers to monitor sobriety before LT, while only 79% used biomarkers in the post-LT period. 74% of centers had a protocol for recurrent alcohol use before LT for patients with AAC, while only 47% of centers had a post-LT protocol. 85% of centers reported performing LT for severe AAH. 74 (87%) centers had a protocol for LT evaluation: 58 (78%) had implemented a protocol within the past 4 years and 16 (22%) within 0-1 years. 52 (70%) centers reported inclusion of a patient agreement for sobriety maintenance, and 62 (84%) centers arranged a post-LT treatment plan for AUD prior to LT. 74 (87%) centers used biomarkers to monitor for sobriety after LT for severe AAH, and 40 (47%) centers had a protocol for recurrent alcohol use, most often triggering a hepatology (90%) or social work visit (87.5%).

Responses= 100/117 LT centers
UNOS Regions represented 100%
Center Volume (LT/yr) n
0-50 31
51-100 37
>100 32
LT volume/year for ALD %
0-25% 18
26-50% 59
51-75% 20
76-100% 3
Minimum Sobriety Time Requirement for AAC? 30%
Center Resources for AUD %
Transplant Psychiatry 71
Addiction Medicine 79
Psychologist 87
Inpatient Treatment Program 60
Outpatient Treatment Program 67
Monitoring for ETOH use %
pre-LT
Biomarkers 100%
Routine screening for ETOH use 75.5%
Protocol for ETOH use 74%
post-LT %
Biomarkers 79%
Routine screening for ETOH use 69.6%
Protocol for ETOH use 47%
LT for severe AAH n= 85
LT volume/year %
0-5 60%
6-10 18%
>10 23%
Protocol for LT in severe AAH? Y= 87%
First hepatic decompensation 85.1%
SIPAT score 60.8%
Pre-LT plan for treatment of AUD 83.8%
Post-LT monitoring for ETOH use %
Biomarkers 87.0%
Routine screening for ETOH use 58.1%
Protocol for ETOH use 47.0%

*Conclusions: Our findings highlight a change in center attitudes towards LT for ALD: the majority of centers now have no minimum sobriety requirement for LT for AAC and most centers perform LT for severe AAH. The heterogeneity of resources and practices in the care of patients with ALD indicate a need for standardization to promote quality and reduce disparities in this population.

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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Lim N, Kwong A, Jafri S, Jesse M, Kriss M, Nair K, Pillai A, Shingina A, Desai A. Heterogeneity in Center Practices in Liver Transplantation for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in the United States [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/heterogeneity-in-center-practices-in-liver-transplantation-for-alcohol-associated-liver-disease-in-the-united-states/. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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