Briefly noted: A recent study (NM Gorgis et al. Hepatology 2019; 69: 1206-18, editorial 940-2 by Elizabeth Rand) indicates that cirrhotic cardiomyopathy (CCM) is very important factor for survival for biliary atresia (BA) patients requiring liver transplantation.
CCM was defined based on two-dimensional echocardiographic criteria: LV mass index ≥95 g/meter-squared or relative wall LV thickness of LV ≥0.42.
Key points:
- Overall, 11 of 69 patients died, 4 while awaiting liver transplantation and 7 following transplantation.
- 34 of 69 BA patients in this cohort had BA-CCM
- All 11 who died had BA-CCM compared with no deaths in the 35 patients without CCM.
My take: Severe BA-CCM needs to be examined further; if severe, it may merit changing allocation policy.
Related blog posts:
- Cirrhosis and Cardiac Function
- Cholecardia
- Bilary Atresia Prognosis After 2-year Suvrival with Native Liver
- Outcomes of “Successful” Biliary Atresia Patients
- Outcomes of Biliary Atresia | gutsandgrowth
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