Alcohol Use in Patients After Liver Transplantation for Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Detected by the Questionnaire (Regional Experience)

Background: Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is a common indication for liver transplantation. Recurrence of alcohol use was retrospectively analyzed after liver transplantation. Methods: From X/1995 to II/2002, 42 out of 246 patients underwent liver transplantation for alcoholic liver cirrhosis. We administered a questionnaire to all patients surviving at least 1 year post liver transplantation for alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Liver biopsy was performed annually. The results of the questionnaires of both alcohol use and sobriety group were compared with laboratory parameters, graft histopathology, socioeconomic status and survival rate. Results: Sixteen patients admitted alcohol consumption in the questionnaire. Serious graft damage was diagnosed in 4 recipients, 2 of them died due to graft failure, one for another reason, 12 returned to alcohol use. We have found more steatosis, presence of Mallory hyaline and no difference in fibrosis between alcohol use and sobriety group. The alcohol use and sobriety group differed in body mass index, triacylglycerols, medium corpuscular volume and activity of glutamyltransferase. Cumulative survival rate [1, 3, 5 years] was significantly lower in alcohol use group than in sobriety group. Conclusion: Patients after liver transplantation for alcoholic liver cirrhosis with alcohol use had lower survival rate as compared with sobriety group. Considering the differences in histopathology and laboratory parameters in patients with and without alcohol use after liver transplantation, administration of questionnaires seems to be a valid tool for recurrence of alcohol use detection.