Current status of intestinal transplantation in children.

PURPOSE

A clinical trial of intestinal transplantation (Itx) under tacrolimus and prednisone immunosuppression was initiated in June 1990 in children with irreversible intestinal failure and who were dependent on total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

METHODS

Fifty-five patients (28 girls, 27 boys) with a median age of 3.2 years (range, 0.5 to 18 years) received 58 intestinal transplants that included isolated small bowel (SB) (n = 17), liver SB (LSB) (n=33), and multivisceral (MV) (n=8) allografts. Nine patients also received bone marrow infusion, and there were 20 colonic allografts. Azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, or mycophenolate mofetil were used in different phases of the series. Indications for Itx included: gastroschisis (n=14), volvulus (n=13), necrotizing enterocolitis (n=6), intestinal atresia (n=8), chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (n=5), Hirschsprung's disease (n=4), microvillus inclusion disease (n=3), multiple polyposis (n=1), and trauma [n=1).

RESULTS

Currently, 30 patients are alive (patient survival, 55%; graft survival, 52%). Twenty-nine children with functioning grafts are living at home and off TPN, with a mean follow-up of 962 (range, 75 to 2,424) days. Immunologic complications have included liver allograft rejection (n=18), intestinal allograft rejection (n=52), posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (n=16), cytomegalovirus (n=16) and graft-versus-host disease (n=4). A combination of associated complications included intestinal perforation (n=4), biliary leak (n=3), bile duct stenosis (n=1), intestinal leak (n=6), dehiscence with evisceration (n=4), hepatic artery thrombosis (n=3), bleeding (n=9), portal vein stenosis (n=1), intraabdominal abscess (n=11), and chylous ascites (n=4). Graft loss occurred as a result of rejection (n=8), infection (n=12), technical complications (n=8), and complications of TPN after graft removal (n=3). There were four retransplants (SB, n=1; LSB n=3).

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal transplantation is a valid therapeutic option for patients with intestinal failure suffering complications of TPN. The complex clinical and immunologic course of these patients is reflected in a higher complication rate as well as patient and graft loss than seen after heart, liver, and kidney transplantation, although better than after lung transplantation.