Diagnosis and Treatment of Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Diagnosis and Treatment of Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is considered a curative treatment for patients with end stage liver disease and can also be used for patients with HH and decompensated cirrhosis or HCC. However, historically post-OLT survival in HH patients has been poor compared to other indications for OLT. This is because of multiple perioperative infections, especially within a year after transplant, and cardiomyopathy after the first year. A recent study suggested that post-OLT outcomes may have improved in HH and are comparable to other indications for OLT although the latter study did not confirm the diagnosis of HH using objective criteria but rather used data reported from transplant center diagnosis codes.
Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is considered a curative treatment for patients with end stage liver disease and can also be used for patients with HH and decompensated cirrhosis or HCC. However, historically post-OLT survival in HH patients has been poor compared to other indications for OLT. This is because of multiple perioperative infections, especially within a year after transplant, and cardiomyopathy after the first year. A recent study suggested that post-OLT outcomes may have improved in HH and are comparable to other indications for OLT although the latter study did not confirm the diagnosis of HH using objective criteria but rather used data reported from transplant center diagnosis codes.
