Horizons in TransplantationLiver transplantationPerioperative Predictors of Survival After Liver Transplantation for Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy in a Portuguese Center

•This is the largest single-center registry in published literature.•Body mass index was an independent prognostic factor.•Number of red blood cell units transfused was an independent prognostic factor.•Operation time was an independent prognostic factor.

BackgroundLiver transplantation (LT) has been the treatment of choice to halt the progression of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Few studies have identified prognostic factors for post-LT survival in FAP. Our aim was to assess survival rate and to identify independent factors for survival after LT.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study of FAP patients transplanted for the first time analyzed 116 transplantations from 2006 to 2014. The median follow-up period was 45.5 months.ResultsThe overall survival rates at 1 month, 1 year, and 5 years were 89%, 82% and 79%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, only number of red blood cell (RBC) units transfused during surgery, operation time, and body mass index were independent prognostic factors for patient survival. Only 30% of patients were transfused during surgery, and, in these, each RBC unit transfused increased mortality by 53%. The operation time increased mortality by 20% for every 15 minutes of surgery.ConclusionsThis study suggests that operation time and RBC transfused are predominant factors affecting post-LT survival in our FAP patients.