Follow-Up of Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients After Reaching Adulthood

Background: Despite excellent transplantation results, there is a vulnerable period of time in the post-transplant management of pediatric liver recipients, which is the time when a child becomes an adolescent. This period of psychological distress influences compliance and may result in premature transplant failure and graft loss. We performed a retrospective review of pediatric liver transplant recipients, transferred to our service for adults, in order to identify key issues associated with transition into the adult care. Material/Methods: We analyzed medical files of 20 liver recipients transferred from pediatric post-transplant outpatient clinic to the post-transplant service for adults, since year 2000 until December 2015. For survival analyses, Kaplan-Meier model with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model, to calculate hazard ratio ( HR), were used. Results: Survival rate exceeds 90% in the study population. The major complication was late acute rejection, in most instances due to non-compliance. There were single cases of recurrent liver disease and de novo graft disorders. Conclusions: Dedicated service for young people may be needed to optimize outcomes.