Author/Authors :
Malek-Hosseini, Ali Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Jafarian, Ali Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Nikeghbalian, Saman Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Poustchi, Hossein Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Lankarani, Kamran B Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Nasiri Toosi, Mohsen Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Salahi, Heshmatollah Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Dehghani, Mohsen Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Eshraghian, Ahad Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Sharafkhah, Maryam Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Eghtesad, Sareh Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Motamed-Gorji, Nazgol Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Kazemi, Kourosh Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Salimi, Javad Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Moini, Majid Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Shamsaeefar, Alireza Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Moini, Maryam Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Dehghani, Masoud Afzalipour Hospital - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Khosravi, Mohammad B Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Najafi, Atabak Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Sattari, Hossein Afzalipour Hospital - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Geramizadeh, Bita Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Shafiee, Mohammad Afzalipour Hospital - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman , Toutouni, Mohammad N Department of Surgery - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Sanei, Behnam Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan , Nejatollahi, Mohammadreza Taleghani Hospital - Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran , Taghavi, Alireza Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Bahador, Ali Nemazee Hospital - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz , Aliakbarian, Mohsen Department of Surgery - Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad , Eghtesad, Bijan Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplant Surgery - Cleveland Clinic - Cleveland - Ohio, USA , Malekzadeh, Reza Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Abstract :
Background: Iran’s experience with liver transplantation (LT) began more than two decades ago. The purpose of this article is to present the status of LT in Iran, review specific characteristics of the programs, their outcomes, and their growth to become one of the largest LT programs in the world.
Methods: A questionnaire, asking for data on the number of transplants performed and specifics of the recipients and type of donors with focus on indications and outcomes was sent to LT programs.
Results: During a period of 23 years, 4,485 LTs were performed at 6 centers in the country. Of these, 4106 were from deceased donors and 379 were from living donors. There were 3553 adults and 932 pediatric recipients. Hepatitis B and biliary atresia were the most common etiologies in adult and pediatric patients, respectively. Overall survival rates at 1, 5, and 10 years were 85%, 77%, and 71% for adults and 76%, 67% and 56% for pediatric patients, respectively.
Conclusion: Approval of the brain death law in Iran and coordinated efforts by the transplant centers to build comprehensive LT programs has resulted in the ability to procure more than 700 deceased donors per year with acceptable long-term survival.
