Outcome comparison of liver transplantation for hepatitis A-related versus hepatitis B-related acute liver failure in adult recipients.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) can cause acute liver failure (ALF). This study compares outcomes between liver transplantation (LT) for HAV-related ALF (HAV-ALF) and LT for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ALF (HBV-ALF). Of 3616 adult LTs performed between January 2005 and December 2014, we performed LT for HAV-ALF recipients (n = 29) and LT for HBV-ALF recipients (n = 34). HAV-ALF group included 18 males and 11 females with mean age of 33.1 years. Graft survival rates in HAV-ALF and HBV-ALF were 65.5% and 88.0% (1 year) and 65.5% and 84.0% (5 years) (P = .048). Patient survival rates in HAV-ALF and HBV-ALF were 69.0% and 88.0% (1 year) and 69.0% and 84.0% (5 years) (P = .09). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that acute pancreatitis and HAV recurrence were independent risk factors of graft and patient survival. Post-transplant outcome was poorer in patients with HAV-ALF than in those with HBV-ALF. This weakens LT's appropriateness in HAV-ALF patients with pancreatitis. HAV recurrence after LT for HAV-ALF is common and often fatal; thus, HAV recurrence should be monitored vigilantly, beginning early post-transplant.