Follow-up of liver transplant recipients.

The number of surviving liver allograft recipients is increasing almost exponentially. The quality and length of life is increasing but most recipients have reduced survival and quality of life compared with healthy matched individuals. Causes of premature death include cardio and cerebrovascular disease, renal failure, graft failure, de novo malignancy and recurrent disease. Follow-up is needed lifelong to ensure graft and patient health and ensure that complications are recognised and treated early. Immunosuppression is kept to the appropriate minimum and prophylactic interventions are given early, such as use of statins and tight control of blood pressure and blood sugar. Recipients will require life-long follow-up, and this is placing an increasing burden on transplant units. Follow-up is best done by close collaboration between the Liver Transplant Unit, the local hospital and primary care team. Involvement of other health care practitioners, such as recipient coordinators, pharmacists, dermatologists and addiction specialists may improve outcomes. Key to successful follow-up are agreed protocols and good communication between the recipients and all relevant health care providers. Use of IT allows for better communication and will support use of video and telephone consultations in selected instances. The most appropriate follow-up will depend on many factors, including logistic and geographic issues, local experience. The provision of well-funded and supported registries at local, national and international levels will allow for improvements in management.