Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Although the impact of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is well investigated, the impact of primary TR with tricuspid valve incompetence (TVI) on LT outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary TR with TVI on LT outcomes in a large-volume LT center. Methods: We retrospectively examined 5 512 consecutive LT recipients who underwent routine pretransplant echocardiography between 2008 and 2020. Patients were categorized based on the presence of anatomical TVI, specifically defined by incomplete coaptation, coaptation failure, prolapse, and flail leaflets of tricuspid valve (TV). Propensity score (PS)-based inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to balance clinical and cardiovascular risk variables. The outcomes were one-year cumulative all-cause mortality and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Anatomical TVI was identified in 14 patients (0.3%). Although rare, these patients exhibited significantly lower post-LT one-year survival rates (64.3% vs. 91.5%, P < 0.001) and higher 30-day MACE rates (42.9% vs. 16.9%, P = 0.026) than patients without TVI. They also had worse survival irrespective of echocardiographic evidence of PH (P < 0.001) and exhibited higher one-year mortality (IPW-adjusted hazard ratio: 4.09, P = 0.002) and increased 30-day MACE rates (IPW-adjusted odds ratio: 1.24, P = 0.048). Conclusions Primary TR with anatomical TVI was associated with significantly reduced one-year survival and increased post-LT MACE rates. These patients should be prioritized similarly to those with secondary TR with severe PH, with appropriate pretransplant evaluations and treatments to improve survival outcomes.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Although the impact of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is well investigated, the impact of primary TR with tricuspid valve incompetence (TVI) on LT outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary TR with TVI on LT outcomes in a large-volume LT center. Methods: We retrospectively examined 5 512 consecutive LT recipients who underwent routine pretransplant echocardiography between 2008 and 2020. Patients were categorized based on the presence of anatomical TVI, specifically defined by incomplete coaptation, coaptation failure, prolapse, and flail leaflets of tricuspid valve (TV). Propensity score (PS)-based inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to balance clinical and cardiovascular risk variables. The outcomes were one-year cumulative all-cause mortality and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Anatomical TVI was identified in 14 patients (0.3%). Although rare, these patients exhibited significantly lower post-LT one-year survival rates (64.3% vs. 91.5%, P < 0.001) and higher 30-day MACE rates (42.9% vs. 16.9%, P = 0.026) than patients without TVI. They also had worse survival irrespective of echocardiographic evidence of PH (P < 0.001) and exhibited higher one-year mortality (IPW-adjusted hazard ratio: 4.09, P = 0.002) and increased 30-day MACE rates (IPW-adjusted odds ratio: 1.24, P = 0.048). Conclusions Primary TR with anatomical TVI was associated with significantly reduced one-year survival and increased post-LT MACE rates. These patients should be prioritized similarly to those with secondary TR with severe PH, with appropriate pretransplant evaluations and treatments to improve survival outcomes.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Although the impact of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is well investigated, the impact of primary TR with tricuspid valve incompetence (TVI) on LT outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary TR with TVI on LT outcomes in a large-volume LT center. Methods: We retrospectively examined 5 512 consecutive LT recipients who underwent routine pretransplant echocardiography between 2008 and 2020. Patients were categorized based on the presence of anatomical TVI, specifically defined by incomplete coaptation, coaptation failure, prolapse, and flail leaflets of tricuspid valve (TV). Propensity score (PS)-based inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to balance clinical and cardiovascular risk variables. The outcomes were one-year cumulative all-cause mortality and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Anatomical TVI was identified in 14 patients (0.3%). Although rare, these patients exhibited significantly lower post-LT one-year survival rates (64.3% vs. 91.5%, P < 0.001) and higher 30-day MACE rates (42.9% vs. 16.9%, P = 0.026) than patients without TVI. They also had worse survival irrespective of echocardiographic evidence of PH (P < 0.001) and exhibited higher one-year mortality (IPW-adjusted hazard ratio: 4.09, P = 0.002) and increased 30-day MACE rates (IPW-adjusted odds ratio: 1.24, P = 0.048). Conclusions Primary TR with anatomical TVI was associated with significantly reduced one-year survival and increased post-LT MACE rates. These patients should be prioritized similarly to those with secondary TR with severe PH, with appropriate pretransplant evaluations and treatments to improve survival outcomes.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Although the impact of secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR) with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) is well investigated, the impact of primary TR with tricuspid valve incompetence (TVI) on LT outcomes remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and impact of primary TR with TVI on LT outcomes in a large-volume LT center. Methods: We retrospectively examined 5 512 consecutive LT recipients who underwent routine pretransplant echocardiography between 2008 and 2020. Patients were categorized based on the presence of anatomical TVI, specifically defined by incomplete coaptation, coaptation failure, prolapse, and flail leaflets of tricuspid valve (TV). Propensity score (PS)-based inverse probability weighting (IPW) was used to balance clinical and cardiovascular risk variables. The outcomes were one-year cumulative all-cause mortality and 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: Anatomical TVI was identified in 14 patients (0.3%). Although rare, these patients exhibited significantly lower post-LT one-year survival rates (64.3% vs. 91.5%, P < 0.001) and higher 30-day MACE rates (42.9% vs. 16.9%, P = 0.026) than patients without TVI. They also had worse survival irrespective of echocardiographic evidence of PH (P < 0.001) and exhibited higher one-year mortality (IPW-adjusted hazard ratio: 4.09, P = 0.002) and increased 30-day MACE rates (IPW-adjusted odds ratio: 1.24, P = 0.048). Conclusions Primary TR with anatomical TVI was associated with significantly reduced one-year survival and increased post-LT MACE rates. These patients should be prioritized similarly to those with secondary TR with severe PH, with appropriate pretransplant evaluations and treatments to improve survival outcomes.

Background: High B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels within the first 3 postoperative days (postBNPPOD3) after liver transplantation (LT) are greatly predictive of the 30-day mortality. We evaluated clinical impact of transient decrease in postBNPPOD3 compared to pretransplant BNP (preBNP) level on mortality and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) within 30 days after LT. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 3,811 LT patients who measured delta BNP (deltaBNP), defined by serial postBNPPOD3 minus preBNP. Thirty-day all-cause mortality and MACE were estimated in patients with deltaBNP < 0 (n = 594, 15.6%) and > 0 (n = 3,217, 84.4%), respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariable Cox regression analysis were used. Results: Within 30 days, 100 (2.6%) of all patients died. Unexpectedly, 30-day mortality rate (6.1% [95% CI: 4.2–8.4%] vs. 2.0% [95% CI: 1.5–2.5%], P < 0.001) and MACE (24.2% [95% CI: 20.4–28.5%] vs. 15.3% [95% CI: 14.0–16.7%], P < 0.001) were higher in patients with deltaBNP < 0 compared to those with deltaBNP > 0, respectively. Patients with deltaBNP < 0 had higher preBNP level (median [interquartile range], 251 [118, 586] vs. 43 [21, 92] pg/ml, P < 0.001) and model for end-stage liver disease score (26 [14, 37] vs. 14 [9, 23], P < 0.001) and more transfused intraoperatively. DeltaBNP < 0 remained significant after adjustments for potential confounders in multivariable analysis of 30-day mortality and MACE. Conclusions DeltaBNP < 0 within the first 3 postoperative days is mainly attributed to pre-LT severe liver and cardiac disease status, therefore, transient decrease in BNP level after LT does not ensure favorable post-LT 30-day outcomes.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening disease that requires urgent liver transplantation (LT). Accurate identification of high-risk patients is essential for predicting post-LT survival. The chronic liver failure consortium ACLF score is a widely accepted risk-stratification score that includes total white blood cell (WBC) counts as a component. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of total and differential WBC counts for short-term mortality following LT in patients with ACLF. Methods: A total of 685 patients with ACLF who underwent LT between January 2008 and February 2019 were analyzed. Total and differential WBC counts were examined as a function of the model for end-stage liver disease for sodium (MELD-Na) score. The association between total and differential WBC counts and 90-day post-LT mortality was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: The total WBC counts and neutrophil ratio were higher in patients with ACLF than in those without ACLF. The neutrophil ratio was significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality after adjustment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; P = 0.001), whereas total WBC counts were not significantly associated with 90-day post-LT mortality in either univariate or multivariate Cox analyses. The neutrophil ratio demonstrated a relatively linear trend with an increasing MELD-Na score and HR for 90-day post-LT mortality, whereas the total WBC counts exhibited a plateaued pattern. Conclusions: Neutrophilia, rather than total WBC counts, is a better prognostic indicator for short-term post-LT mortality in patients with ACLF.

Background: Excessive citrate load during therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) can cause metabolic alkalosis with compensatory hypercarbia and electrolyte disturbances. If TPE is required immediately before ABO-incompatible (ABOi) liver transplant (LT) surgery, metabolic derangement and severe electrolyte disturbance could worsen during LT anesthesia.Case: We report two ABOi LT cases who received TPE on the day of surgery because isoagglutinin titers did not be dropped below 1:8. One case had a surprisingly high metabolic alkalosis with a pH of 7.73 immediately after tracheal intubation because of hyperventilation during mask bagging. The other experienced sudden ventricular tachycardia and blood pressure drop after surgical incision accompanied with severe hypokalemia of 1.8 mmol/L despite supplementation with potassium. Conclusions Special attention should be paid to patients who just completed TPE the operative day morning as they are vulnerable to severe acid-base disturbances and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in ABOi LT.

Background: Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) are critically ill and have high waiting-list mortality. Although studies demonstrated that appropriately treated coronary artery disease (CAD) should not be regarded as a contraindication to liver transplant (LT), data regarding long-term outcomes in critically ill liver LT recipients are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the rates of all-cause death at 5 years following LT in patients with ACLF with or without CAD. Methods: Between 2010 and 2020, we evaluated 921 consecutive LT patients (MELD score, 32 ± 9) and ACLF classified by CLIF-C ACLF score. Up to 5-year all-cause death according to the CAD status was examined. CAD was defined as a preoperative history of coronary artery bypass graft or a percutaneous intervention and old myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used. Results: Up to 5 years, 212 (23.0%) of all ACLF patients (n = 921) in whom 17 (29.3%) of 58 CAD patients died. In patients with CAD (6.3%, 58/921), the Kaplan-Meier cumulative mortality rate at 5 years was numerically higher but was not statistically significant when compared with those without CAD (32.9% vs. 23.5%, log-rank, P = 0.25). In subgr oup analysis, there were comparable risks of cumulative mortalities at 5 years across the stratification of ACLF grade 1, 2, and 3 (log-rank P = 0.062, P = 0.72, and P = 0.999, respectively). Conclusions All-cause mortality is high in patients with ACLF after LT but is not related to the presence of revascularized or treated CAD, across the stratification of ACLF grades.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing worldwide due to the aging population and cardiometabolic syndrome. However, the extent of postoperative myocardial injury, the most common cause of death during the 30 days after noncardiac surgery, remains unclear with respect to liver transplant (LT) patients with CAD. We examined the link between post-LT high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs_cTnI) and long-term survival according to liver disease severity. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent LT (n = 3,220) from 2010 to 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. CAD was defined as a history of coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous intervention, or previous myocardial infarction. Peak hs_cTnI levels within 30 days post-transplant were compared in patients with and without CAD. The primary endpoint was defined as an all-cause mortality at 12 years following LT. Secondary endpoints include peak hs_cTnI level within post-transplant 30 days and 30-day mortality. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: CAD patients (n = 264, 8.2%) had higher peak hs_cTnI levels within 30 days post-LT than those without CAD (median [interquartile]: 0.068 [0.030–0.154] vs. 0.087 [0.037–0.203] ng/ml, respectively; P = 0.004); however, the mortality rate was comparable (14.7% vs. 14.8%, respectively, P = 0.999), at 12 years, and 1.9% vs. 1.1% (P = 0.522) at 30 days, respectively, at 30 days. Subgroup analysis with stratified liver disease severity identified a similar risk of long-term mortality. Conclusions Although the peak hs_cTnI level within 30 days was higher in revascularized or treated CAD patients after LT compared those without CAD, long-term mortality rates at 12 years and 30-day mortality rate were comparable.

Background: Considering the importance of the inflammatory status of recipients on outcomes following liver transplantation (LT), we investigated the association between C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) and one-year mortality following LT and compared it with other parameters reflecting patients’ underlying inflammatory status. Methods: A total of 3,614 consecutive adult LT recipients were retrospectively evaluated. Prognostic parameters were analyzed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis, and subsequent cutoffs were derived. For survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed. Results: The AUROC for CAR to predict one-year mortality after LT was 0.68 (0.65–0.72), which was the highest compared with other inflammatory parameters, with the best cutoff of 0.34. A CAR ≥ 0.34 was associated with a significantly higher one-year mortality rate (13.3% vs. 5.8 %, log-rank P < 0.001) and overall mortality rate (24.5% vs. 12.9%, log-rank P = 0.039). A CAR ≥ 0.34 was an independent predictor of one-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.40 [1.03–1.90], P = 0.031) and overall mortality (hazard ratio 1.39 [1.13–1.71], P = 0.002) after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions Preoperative CAR (≥ 0.34) was independently associated with a higher risk of one-year and overall mortality after LT. This may suggest that CAR, a simple and readily available biomarker, maybe a practical index that may assist in the risk stratification of liver transplantation outcomes.