Liver Transplantation (LT) provides excellent long-term outcomes for recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Though the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and PSC is well documented, its impact on LT outcomes with respect to different ethnic backgrounds is unknown. Therefore the aim of this study is to determine the association between ethnicity and IBD in the post-transplant setting among recipients with PSC. Methods: Using the UNOS database, we identified all adult DDLT recipients (age > 18 years) with PSC between 1995 and 2008. The data collected included demographics, MELD score, presence or absence of IBD and survival information. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square, Kaplan-Meier and log-Rank tests. Results: During the study period, a total of 4904 patients with PSC received LT. There were 3306 male (67.4%), median age of 47 (range 18 – 78 years) with median MELD score of 17. There were 4143 (84.5%) caucasians, blacks (10.6%), Hispanic (3.3%) and the rest (1.6%). During the study period, the proportion of LT recipients with PSC was higher in blacks (8.63%), compared to white (6.36%), Hispanic (1.73%) and Asian (1.57%). Additionally, black LT recipients had a lower survival compared to non-black (log rank p=0.03). See KM survival graph. In our study population, 60.3% had concomitant IBD. Whites had a higher proportion of concomitant IBD (62.7%) compared to Asian (48.7%), Black (48.3%) and Hispanics (48.4%) (p-value < 0.001). There was no difference in patient and graft survival between recipients with and without concomitant IBD (p-value > 0.5). Conclusion: Ethnic variations exist among recipients with PSC. In comparison to other ethnic groups, black recipients have a higher proportion of LT for PSC and a significantly lower overall survival. Though Caucasians have a higher incidence of IBD in comparison to other ethnic groups, the presence of concomitant IBD among LT recipients with PSC has no impact on survival.

« Back to 2013 American Transplant Congress