From the Guidelines
The average lifespan of a transplanted liver is around 10-15 years, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 70% and a 1-year survival rate close to 90%. This is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which reports excellent life expectancy for transplanted patients, limited mostly by recurrent disease or side effects associated with immunosuppression 1.
Factors Influencing Longevity
Several factors influence the longevity of a transplanted liver, including:
- The recipient's age and overall health
- The quality of the donor liver
- Adherence to immunosuppressive medication regimens
- Management of complications
Post-Transplant Care
Patients must take immunosuppressant medications for life to prevent rejection, and regular follow-up appointments are essential, especially in the first year post-transplant 1.
Lifestyle Modifications
Lifestyle modifications, including avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and preventing infections, are crucial for maximizing liver longevity.
Causes of Transplant Failure
The primary causes of transplant failure include rejection, recurrence of the original liver disease (particularly hepatitis C or autoimmune conditions), and complications from immunosuppression such as infections or kidney damage 1.
From the Research
Average Lifespan of a Transplanted Liver
- The average lifespan of a transplanted liver is not directly stated in the provided studies, but patient and graft survival rates are reported in several studies 2, 3, 4, 5.
- A study from 2001 reported 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year patient survival rates of 85.1%, 81.6%, 78.6%, and 75.8%, respectively, for one group of patients, and 87.4%, 85.4%, 81.3%, and 79.9%, respectively, for another group 3.
- Another study from 1998 reported 1-year patient survival rates of 85.1% and 83.1% for two different groups of patients, and 1-year graft survival rates of 80.2% and 79.2%, respectively 4.
- A long-term survey of liver transplant recipients reported that 211 out of 215 recipients who survived for more than 10 years remain alive today with normal liver function, with survival ranges of ≥20 years (n = 13), 15 to 19 years (n = 86), and 10 to 14 years (n = 116) 5.
- These studies suggest that the lifespan of a transplanted liver can be many years, but the exact average lifespan is not provided 2, 3, 4, 5.