Autoimmune liver diseases (ALDs), including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), are an indication for liver transplantation (LT) in 3%-5% of transplants in the United States. 1,2 Not all patients with ALD go on to need LT, but indications for LT can include acute liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease/Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease score ≥ 15, malignancy, or refractory pruritus (PBC). Transplantation for ALD presents unique considerations given the possibility of recurrent disease and increased incidence of rejection. 3,4 Despite the potential for recurrent disease, outcomes after LT for ALD are similar to other indications. In adult LT recipients, long-term survival for AIH was similar to alcoholic cirrhosis, although worse than PBC and PSC, possibly related to immunosuppression and serious infections. 5 Patients with AIH post-LT were also at an increased risk for graft loss compared with PBC, PSC, and alcoholism, with a graft survival rate of 73.2% at 5 years and 50.9% at 15 years. 5 According to a United Network for Organ Sharing database analysis, patient survival for children transplanted for both AIH and PSC was >90% at 5 years. 6
RECURRENT DISE ASE AFTER TR ANSPL ANTBiochemical, imaging, histological features, and treatment of recurrent ALD are summarized in Table 1.
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