The liver has many functions, including building proteins and other substances for the body to use, removal of waste products and toxins from the blood, drug metabolism, and energy storage. Liver disease causes these crucial functions to fail. When liver failure is too severe to respond to medications, liver transplantation may be an option. Because transplantation is a major surgical procedure and there is a shortage of available donor organs, not every person with liver failure can receive a transplant. At each transplant center, a multidisciplinary team reviews and selects patients who are then placed on a waiting list for a suitable donor organ. These donor organs are allocated by the organ donor coordinators based on need (most severely ill persons) and compatibility of donor and recipient. The May 10, 2006, issue of JAMA includes an article about serious liver disease and liver transplantation.
Hepatitis C and hepatitis B—forms of hepatitis (liver infections) that can cause serious, permanent liver damage
Cirrhosis (permanent liver damage from diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis and inherited liver diseases or from alcohol abuse)
In children, biliary atresia (failure of bile duct formation) is the most common reason for needing a liver transplant
Toxic hepatic failure (can occur from eating poisonous mushrooms or from overdoses of drugs such as acetaminophen)
Hepatocellular carcinoma (a primary cancer of the liver tissue), when found at an early, treatable stage
Grahic Jump Location
Liver transplantation is a major operation that takes place only in specialized transplant centers. The diseased liver is removed through an abdominal incision. The liver's blood supply (portal vein, inferior vena cava, and hepatic artery) and the biliary system are all connected to the new liver after it is placed into the abdominal cavity. Persons who have liver transplants require intensive care and close monitoring after their operation. In a few cases, only part of a healthy liver from a living (usually related) donor may be used. This requires the donor to have an operation to remove a part of their liver, which is then transplanted into the person with liver failure.
Immunosuppressive medications (drugs that prevent rejection of the transplanted organ) must be taken for the rest of the individual's life.
The transplanted liver is monitored for function and for rejection, and the medication regimen is often adjusted.
Persons with transplanted organs should avoid contact with ill individuals to prevent infection. Illnesses that healthy persons can tolerate have serious consequences for patients who are taking immunosuppressive medications.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseaseshttp://www.niddk.nih.gov
American Liver Foundation 800/465-4837 http://www.liverfoundation.org
United Network for Organ Sharing 888/894-6361 http://www.unos.org
To find this and previous JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. Many are available in English and Spanish. A Patient Page on hepatitis C was published in the May 14, 2003, issue; and one on suppressing the immune system for organ transplants was published in the May 10, 2000, issue.
Sources: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; American Liver Foundation; United Network for Organ Sharing; American Gastroenterological Association
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. To purchase bulk reprints, call 203/259-8724.
TOPIC: LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature
Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal
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