Skip to content 
Liver transplant life expectancy
As noted above, most liver transplant candidates have a 1-year life expectancy lower than 90%. It is usually much lower than that. It sometimes reaches 50% or less. In contrast, life expectancy after receiving a liver transplant is measured in 10 years instead of one because it is very high.
In most studies, the 10-year survival rate is higher than 70% if these patients comply with their life-long immunosuppressive therapy. Still, it is essential to note that immunosuppressive therapy sometimes causes renal toxicity and cardiovascular problems. Both are complications that may increase the mortality rate.
Other complications that increase mortality rates include perioperative acute kidney injury and other causes of renal impairment. These patients are three times more susceptible to cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke, which is why patients with hypertension and diabetes are at a higher risk of mortality. It is also known that cancer incidence in patients after liver transplantation is up to 4-fold higher than usual. The most common types of cancer include lymphoma and skin cancer. The latter is much more dangerous and causes a significant health burden.
In a nutshell, liver transplantation is recommended in patients with a decreased 1-year survival rate. It is performed to prolong the patient’s life and improve his quality of life. However, liver transplantation and the medications prescribed after that may increase the risk of morbidity in some cases. Some complications of liver transplantation reduce the survival risk, which is usually higher than 70% in 10 years.
References
Brown, J., Sorrell, J. H., McClaren, J., & Creswell, J. W. (2006). Waiting for a liver transplant. Qualitative health research, 16(1), 119-136.
Neuberger, J. (2020). Follow-up of liver transplant recipients. Best Practice & Research Clinical Gastroenterology, 101682.
Åberg, F., Isoniemi, H., & Höckerstedt, K. (2011). Long-term results of liver transplantation. Scandinavian Journal of Surgery, 100(1), 14-21.
Graziadei, I., Zoller, H., Fickert, P., Schneeberger, S., Finkenstedt, A., Peck-Radosavljevic, M., … & Berlakovich, G. (2016). Indications for liver transplantation in adults. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, 128(19), 679-690.
