Background: Portopulmonary hypertension(PPH) was once regarded as a contraindicaton in liver transplantation(LT).However,growing evidence indicated that PPH patients underwent LT may show similar outcomes compared to those with other symptoms and researchers recommended it not be an absolute contraindication. Given the current controversy, we aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize the current evidence comparing the prognosis after LT between candidates with PPH and those not.

Methods: We systematically searched for all studies that compared the outcomes of PPH patients and those not. The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched. All studies reporting outcomes of initial PPH patients versus those not(Control)were further considered for inclusion in this meta-analysis. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to compare the pooled data between PPH and Control groups.

Results: Twelve retrospective and one prospective, randomized, controlled trials, involving 37729 transplant recipients, were included. Initial PPH transplant recipients both had an increased 1-year mortality with an odds ratio of 1.68(95% CI = 1.33–2.11,P<0.0001) compared to Control. Additionally, higher graft lost rate also appeared in PPH groups(OR=1.77 (95% CI = 1.26–2.50,P=0.001).However, no significant difference was seen between the two groups in 30-day mortality.

Conclusion: Patients underwent LT with initial PPH had increased 1-year mortality and graft loss rates compared to those who did not have pulmonary symptoms, the diffrence may be non-significant in the early period post-LT. Nevertheless, LT may be a therapeutic option to PPH patients, which could reduce the mortality of PPH patients.

CITATION INFORMATION: Deng R., Huang B., Shi Y., Ma Y. The Outcomes of Candidates Underwent Liver Transplantaion with Portopulmonary Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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