Background/Aims: Liver transplantation is an important treatment option for end-stage liver disease. Since liver transplantation is not performed in Iceland, patients are sent abroad for this procedure. The aim of this study was to investigate indications and results of liver transplantations for Icelandic patients.

Materials and methods: The study was retrospective and included all patients in Iceland who had undergone liver transplantation from the first transplantation in 1984 to the end of 2012. Information was gathered from medical records. The study period was divided into three subperiods in order to evaluate changes in frequency of transplantation and survival.

Results: During the period, 45 liver transplantations, thereof five retransplantations, were performed. Of 40 patients 16 were males, 18 females, mean age 40 years. There were six children, 2 girls and 4 boys with an age range of 0.4 – 12 years. Number of transplantation per million inhabitants increased significantly (2.40 during 1984-1996; 5.18 during 1997-2006 and 8.90 during 2007-2013; p<0.01). The main indication for transplantation was cirrhosis with complications in 26 patients (65%), acute liver failure in 6 (15%), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in three (8%), and hemangioendothelioma in two (5%). The most common underlying liver diseases were primary biliary cirrhosis in 8 (20%),  autoimmune hepatitis in four (10%), alcoholic cirrhosis in three (7.5%) and primary sclerosing cholangitis in three (7.5%). The mean waiting time for transplantation was 5.9 months (median 3.2). Survial was 84% in one year and 63% in 5 years. Survival increased during the study period.

Conclusions: The number of liver transplantations has increased significantly in recent years. Survival has improved and is comparable to survival in countries where liver transplantations are performed. 

Fig 1. Number of first liver transplantations and retransplantations in Iceland 1984-2012.

Fig 2. Kaplan Meier patient survival curves after liver transplantation for three time preiods.

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