Short-term alcohol abstinence prior to liver transplantation and impact on rejection

Background & Aims

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading indication for liver transplant (LT). Historically, centers implemented 6-month abstinence periods prior to LT listing; however, the impact of this abstinence time on post-transplant rejection outcomes is unclear. This study evaluated if short-term abstinence is associated with increased rejection post-LT.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective, cohort included adult LT recipients from 11/1/2015 to 7/21/2021 with a primary indication of ALD. Patients were grouped by pre-transplant abstinence time of <6 or ≥6-months. The primary endpoint was biopsy proven acute rejection (BPAR) at 12-months post-LT. Secondary endpoints were infection, alcohol relapse, patient and graft survival at 12-months.

Results

Overall, 228 LT recipients met inclusion criteria (<6-months: n = 130; ≥6-months: n = 98). Patients with <6-months of abstinence were younger, had higher MELD scores, and more renal replacement therapy needs. Incidence of BPAR within 12 months of LT was 28 % in the <6-month group vs. 18 % in the ≥6-month group (p = 0.078). Tacrolimus initiation was lower at 7 days post-LT in the <6-month group (77% vs. 89 %; p = 0.029). Delay in tacrolimus initiation past 7 days post-LT was associated with greater BPAR (35% vs. 12 %; p = 0.0001). Increased bloodstream infections (21% vs. 7 %; p = 0.04) and CMV DNAemia (31% vs. 7 %; p = 0.0008) were seen in the <6-month group. Patient and graft survival was similar between groups.

Conclusions

Abstinence time of <6-months was not associated with more BPAR within 12-months post-LT. The <6-month group was sicker at time of LT, which correlates to lower tacrolimus exposure early post-LT and heightened incidence of bacteremia and CMV viremia. Given the high acuity of the <6-month abstinence group, the risk of BPAR must be closely balanced with infection risk.