Multimodal multidisciplinary management of alcohol use disorder in liver transplant candidates and recipients

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States. The judicious allocation of organs and improvement in outcomes requires identification and monitoring of patients with ALD at high-risk for relapse post-transplantation. The controversial movement toward early LT for severe alcohol-related hepatitis (SAH) has also raised concern for alcohol relapse. While LT cures ALD, treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) must be included in the care plan to prevent a return to drinking and subsequent graft ALD. Patients with underlying AUD must be recognized, offered brief interventions and referred for multimodal multidisciplinary treatment that includes medications and psychotherapies along with sober support groups, family engagement, and a new dedication to healthy living in order to help sustain remission. Such comprehensive care will increase LT candidacy in patients with ALD while optimizing clinical outcomes of patients transplanted with AUD.