Liver transplantation for the treatment of nodular regenerative hyperplasia

Abstract

Background: Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) is the leading cause of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in Western countries. Although some patients are successfully managed medically or with shunting procedures, others require liver transplantation. The aim of this review was to assess the overall results obtained with liver transplantation and to better define its role in this setting.

Methods: Systematic review of all published studies on liver transplantation for NRH without language restrictions, in Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library databases through March 2010.

Results: 17 studies including a total of 73 patients were identified; 47 (64.3%) were excluded due to lacking inclusion criteria or clinical data and 26 (35.7%) were analysed. Before liver transplantation, the most frequent clinical presentation was gastroesophageal bleeding (65.3%) followed by ascites (61.5%), hepatic encephalopathy (30.7%) and liver failure (11.5%). The mean follow-up reported after liver transplantation was 30.6±27.6 months and patient and graft survival rate was 78.3%. Only one case reported a NRH recurrence 7 years after liver transplantation (LT).

Conclusions: Although there are no hard data supporting the role of liver transplantation in symptomatic NRH, onset of severe portal hypertension in this setting may represent a valid indication.