Ongoing researchers on liver transplants among the elderly will allow more people to attain older age in better health. But the relative shortage of donated organs and concerns about the benefits of LT for older recipients needs correct assessment.

Outcomes of LT vary among elderly individuals, with the majority of the single-centre case series for LT reporting overall success in this population, while others do not. 

Thus a study compared mortality, graft loss, and postoperative complications after liver transplant in older patients (≥70 years) contrasting with the younger patients (<60 years).

The study included-

• 42 patients aged >/=70 years who underwent a liver transplant 
• 42 matched controls aged <60 years. 

Patient characteristics, comorbid conditions, laboratory results, donor and operative variables, medical and surgical complications, and mortality and graft loss were evaluated.

The observations of the study were as follows-

Preoperative-

• Preoperative creatinine and serum albumin values were higher in older patients and an earlier year of transplant in younger patients. 
• All other Preoperative characteristics were similar across age groups

Intraoperative-

• More erythrocyte transfusions and fluids were required in the elderly than the younger patients. 

Postoperative- 

• Older patients demonstrated a lower bilirubin level and international normalized ratios while a higher albumin level. 
• The median follow-up was found to be 5.1 years (range, 0.1-8.5 years). 
• Older patients were not at an increased risk of death or graft loss compared with the younger ones. 
• Older patients demonstrated more cardiovascular complications.
• The frequency of other complications was similar between age groups.

Thus the Five-year mortality and graft loss in older recipients were found to be comparable with the younger recipients, suggesting that age should not be a limiting factor for Liver transplants in older patients.

Source: Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84(11):973-978. doi:10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60667-8