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This study investigates the relationship between blood group and waiting time until transplantation or death on the waiting list. All patients listed for liver transplantation in the Netherlands between 15 December 2006 and 31 December 2012, were included. Study variables were gender, age, year of listing, diagnosis, previous transplantations, blood group, urgency, and MELD score. Using a competing risks analysis, separate cumulative incidence curves were constructed for death on the waiting list and transplantation and used to evaluate outcomes.In 517 listings, the mean death rate per 100 patient-years was 10.4. A total of 375 (72.5% of all listings) were transplanted. Of all transplantations, 352 (93.9%) were ABO-identical and 23 (6.1%) ABO-compatible. The 5-year cumulative incidence of death was 11.2% ( SE 1.4%), and of transplantation 72.5% ( SE 2.0%). Patient blood group had no multivariate significant impact on the hazard of dying on the waiting list nor on transplantation. Age, MELD score, and urgency status were significantly related to the death on the waiting list and transplantation. More recent listing had higher probability of being transplanted. In the MELD era, patient blood group status does not have a significant impact on liver transplant waiting list mortality nor on waiting time for transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Livers with moderate (30-60%) macrovesicular steatosis have been associated with poor outcome after transplantation. Aim of this study was to examine the outcome after transplantation of livers with moderate macrovesicular steatosis when the cold ischemia time (CIT) is kept very short. Methods: Postoperative outcome of 19 recipients of a moderate steatotic liver were compared with a matched control group of 95 recipients of a nonsteatotic liver graft (1:5 ratio). We studied graft/patient survival rates, incidences of primary nonfunction, postoperative complications (classified according to the Clavien- Dindo classification), first-week postoperative hepatic injury serum markers (AST/ALT), and liver function tests (PT time/bilirubin/lactate). In addition, we studied reversal of graft steatosis in follow-up biopsies. Results: Median CIT in livers with moderate steatosis and in controls was below 8 h in both groups. Although short- and long-term patient/graft survival rates and results of liver function tests were similar, serum markers of hepatic injury and postoperative complications (especially grade IVa) were significantly higher in recipients of a moderate steatotic liver. Reversal of steatosis was seen in 9 of the 11 (82%) recipients with follow-up liver biopsies. Conclusion: Despite the association with severe postoperative complications, moderate macrovesicular steatotic livers can be used successfully for transplantation if the CIT is kept very short. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]