Liver Transplantation in Japan -Registry by the Japanese Liver Transplantation Society

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Transplantation Vol. 50; no. 2-3; pp. 156 - 169
• Main Author: The Japanese Liver Transplantation Society
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society for Transplantation 31.07.2015; 一般社団法人 日本移植学会
• Subjects: cadaveric liver transplantation; Japanese Liver Transplantation Society; living-donor liver transplantation; prognosis; registry
• ISSN: 0578-7947; 2188-0034
• DOI: 10.11386/jst.50.156

As of December 31, 2014, a total of 7,937 liver transplants have been performed in 67 institutions in Japan. This total included 7,673 living-donor transplants and 264 cadaveric-donor transplants (261 from heart-beating donor and 3 from non-heart-beating donor). The annual total of liver transplants in 2014 increased to 463, from 408, in 2013. The number of liver transplants from living-donor increased to 418, from 369, whereas the number of liver transplants from heart-beating cadaveric donor did not change significantly. The most frequent indication was cholestatic disease, followed by neoplastic disease. As for the graft liver in living-donor cases, right-lobe graft was the most popular (35%). Patient survival following transplantation from heart-beating donor (1 year, 87.1%; 3 year, 83.9%; 5 year, 83.1%; 10 year, 77.4%; 15 year, 77.4%) was similar to those from living-donors (1 year, 84.1%; 3 year, 79.9%; 5 year, 77.4%; 10 year, 72.2%; 15 year, 68.3%; 20 year, 66.6%). Graft survival was very much the same as patient survival. As for ABO-incompatible transplantation, new strategies including portal vein infusion and rituximab prophylaxis have been improving the prognosis in adults as well as in children older than 3 years.