Organ Transplantation Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Organ Transplantation, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery.

Predictive factors for anemia six and twelve months after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Guitard J, Ribes D, Kamar N, Muscari F, Lavayssière L, Suc B, Esposito L, Perron JM, Rostaing L

Multiorgan Transplant Unit, University Hospital, CHU Rangueil, France.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and predictive factors for post-transplant anemia (PTA) at 6 (M6) and 12 (M12) months after orthotopic liver-transplant (OLT) in a cohort of 97 consecutive patients. METHODS: Anemia was defined at M6 and M12 according to the World Health Organization criteria, i.e., a hemoglobin level of <12 g/dL for women and <13 g/dL for men. Immunosuppression relied on tacrolimus and steroids with or without mycophenolate mofetil. RESULTS: Anemia was present in 64.5%, 50%, and 52.8% of patients before OLT and at M6 and M12, respectively. Of the anemic patients, 33% (M6) and 30.3% (M12) received recombinant erythropoietin therapy. In multivariate analysis, the independent predictive factors for anemia at M6 were mean corpuscular volume (<85 fl) at day 7, daily steroid dosage (<0.3 mg/kg), serum creatinine (>130 micromol/L), and hemoglobin level (<11 g/dL) 1 month after OLT (M1). Independent predictive factors for anemia at M12 were daily steroid dosage at M1 (<0.3 mg/kg), hematocrit at M1 (<33%), red blood cell count at M6 (<3.75 T/L), daily dosage at M1 of cyclosporine and tacrolimus, and OLT for causes other than alcohol abuse. CONCLUSION: Anemia is highly prevalent within the first year post-OLT. This deserves further investigation and appropriate treatment.

Published 13 June 2006 in Transplantation, 81(11): 1525-31.
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