Prolonged allograft survival in liver transplantation

Abstract

Introduction

Donor age has traditionally been considered a factor associated with allograft failure in liver transplantation. We sought to examine the characteristics and outcomes of all liver allografts with a cumulative age of over 80 years within the US to better understand liver senescence.

Methods

Using the UNOS STARfile, allografts with a cumulative age (sum of age at transplant plus post-transplant survival) of octogenarian, 90–99 nonagenarian, and 100 years or greater (centurion) were identified from all adult transplant recipients between 1990 and 2022. Donor and recipient data as well as outcomes were analyzed.

Results

There were 3437 octogenarian, 622 nonagenarian, and 29 centurion allografts. Donors from allografts with prolonged cumulative age had less diabetes, less alcohol use, and fewer infections compared to all other donors. Recipients had significantly lower MELD scores at the time of transplant and dialysis rates.

Conclusions

Careful matching of older donors with lower MELD recipients results in excellent outcomes as evidenced by the presence of prolonged cumulative age livers, demonstrating the resilience of the liver to senescent events in appropriately matched recipients.